Source
Martin Weinhold
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Lehrstuhl für Chemie Biogener Rohstoffe, TU München
Success story
Marine sugars from algae
From cosmetics to the food industry – in the BioTrim research project, enzymes from marine bacteria are used to modify carrageenans.
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artjazz - stock.adobe.com
In-depth report
EU Research funding for the bioeconomy
Through the Horizon Europe framework program, the European Union supports researchers from academia and industry in realizing their ideas. How can bioeconomy researchers benefit from this attractive EU funding? This dossier offers a compact overview of the wide range of funding formats and explains where interested parties can get help with their application.
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Fraunhofer ISE
In-depth report
Agri-photovoltaics – harvesting energy and crops
Producing food on agricultural land while simultaneously generating electricity – this concept is called agri-photovoltaics. This dossier sheds light on the potential of agri-PV for climate protection and the bioeconomy, and it depicts some approaches that are being researched and tested in Germany.
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kichigin19/stock.adobe.com
Studies and statistics
GET (2025): Microplastic increase in the sea is underestimated
Microplastics in the oceans could increase massively by 2060 - even with improved waste management. This is the result of a study by the interdisciplinary research institute Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET).
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Bioeconomy Exhibition
The bioeconomy has rapidly developed in recent years. What has been accomplished in the last five years alone is truly impressive: Many bioeconomy products have become bestsellers. Bio-based start-ups have grown into medium-sized companies. And established, traditional industrial companies are integrating bio-based production steps into their existing structures.
The latest from the bioeconomy
Traditional wheat varieties are resistant to fungi
The fungal disease yellow rust jeopardises wheat cultivation worldwide. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now discovered genes with natural resistance in Asian wheat varieties. These could help to breed robust wheat in the future and thus strengthen global food security.
Millions in funding for plant genome
With funding totalling 11 million euros from the British innovation agency ARIA, the Potsdam MPI of Molecular Plant Physiology is launching the SyncSol project: a universal plant genome is to make crops more efficient, climate-resilient and pharmaceutically usable.
Agroforestry stabilises yields
A long-term study by the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart shows that agroforestry makes agricultural systems in temperate climate zones more resilient to climate risks. It therefore represents a resilient and sustainable alternative to conventional agriculture in Europe.
Living colour for facades
An international research team involving Graz University of Technology is working on integrating microorganisms into facade paints. The aim is to protect the exterior walls of buildings, bind CO2 and break down air pollutants.
Interviews
20.05.2025 Friederike Hoberg
“Dyes from fungi are an alternative to synthetic colors”
In the MycoColors project, a team led by Friederike Hoberg is investigating the potential of fungi-based dyes for the fashion and textile industries.
Source
IPK Gatersleben
02.04.2025 Jochen Reif
“Through innovation, we utilize the entire value chain of the pea”
Saxony-Anhalt wants to become a “center of the pea bioeconomy”. A research consortium led by Jochen Reif is laying the groundwork for this.
Worldwide strategies
The bioeconomy is gaining ground all over the world. A large number of countries have now adopted bioeconomy strategies - with various focus areas. You can find them in the following overview.
In the spotlight
About the bioeconomy
Bioeconomy - this refers to a modern and sustainable form of economic activity based on the efficient use of biological resources such as plants, animals and microorganisms. All industries that produce, process or use biological resources in any form contribute to the biobased economy.
Polyamides and fragrances from thistle oil
The Linopol project has developed a process to produce polymer intermediates from biological sources.
Bioeconomy inside
Source
tydeline/stock.adobe.com
Meat substitute
More and more people are looking not only for a healthy diet, but also a plant-based one. Yet there is no need to give up eating meat - an alternative comes from Switzerland.
How many tonnes of solid waste in the form of spent grains can be produced per 1,000 tonnes of beer?
Wrong!
Correct!
Source
Image of gold cans by atlascompany on Freepik/Image of coffee cup by diana.grytsku on Freepik
Protective lacquer
An Italian start-up is utilizing waste from tomato processing to develop an eco-friendly alternative to conventional packaging coatings. A bio-resin is extracted from tomato peels that is free of BPA and biodegradable.
What percentage of tomatoes grown in the EU come from Italy?
Correct! Italy alone contributes nearly 40% of the EU's total tomato production.
No, it is more.
Source
KRILLDESIGN
Stool
Orange peel, lemon peel and coffee grounds. What do these elements have in common? They are not necessarily a case for the organic waste bin, but can be reprocessed into practical everyday helpers and beautiful home accessories.
How many tonnes of food waste (edible and non-edible) are produced in Germany every year?
That's wrong. It is almost double the amount.
That is correct.
Source
UMA – stock.adobe.com
Floral foam
Without it, many floral arrangements wouldn't make much of an impression. Floral foam is commonly used in floristry to stabilise cut flowers, grasses, and branches in bouquets, and to provide them with water and nutrients.
How much green waste was generated per capita in Germany in 2022?
That is wrong. This value is from the year 2021.
Correct!
Source
Fischer’s EM-Chiemgau
All-purpose cleaner
Many cleaning products are based on surfactants derived from crude oil. They have been proven to fulfil their main task of dissolving dirt and grease. Bio-based alternatives do this in a more environmentally friendly way using renewable resources.
For how many Germans does sustainability play an important role when buying cleaning products?
No, sustainability plays a greater role in this segment.
That's right, around a third of Germans pay attention to sustainability when it comes to cleaning products.
Events
16.06.2025 bis 18.06.2025 Rome (IT)
FAO Global Agrifood Biotechnologies Conference – Biotechnologies for a Sustainable Future: Driving Agrifood Systems Transformation
17.06.2025 bis 17.06.2025 Dresden
abonocare®-Konferenz
17.06.2025 bis 19.06.2025 Halle (Saale)