Source
A. Pohlmann
Image
ida/adobe.stock.com
In-depth report
New protein sources for tomorrow’s diet
With the world’s population growing and the rising demand for animal-based foods putting pressure on natural resources, the search for alternatives is becoming increasingly urgent. This dossier explores what the protein supply of the future might look like and highlights the initiatives supported by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) in this area.
Image
DeFAF e.V., P. Westerwalbesloh
In-depth report
Agroforestry - cultivating woody plants on the field
Agroforestry systems combine the cultivation of arable crops with the use of woody plants. This dossier presents various concepts and current agroforestry projects and sheds light on how they can be used to make agriculture more sustainable.
Image
chesky/stock.adobe.com
In-depth report
Digital twins in the bioeconomy
A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical object or system that is updated in real time with data from the real world or from simulation runs. This short report explains how digital twins work and how they are used in the bioeconomy.
Image
yanadjan /stock.adobe.com
Success story
Edible scaffolds for cultivated meat
To meet the world’s growing demand for sustainable meat alternatives, the start-up Innocent Meat and the University of Rostock have teamed up in the ZUKUNFT project. Their goal: to develop a process chain to further advance the industrial production of cell-based meat.
Image
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
Genetic diversity of aubergines recorded
For the first time, researchers have catalogued all the genes of the aubergine, including their characteristics. This new database provides a basis for breeding more resilient, climate-adapted and high-quality varieties.
CO₂ conversion using formic acid
A research team at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology has developed an artificial enzyme that efficiently converts formate, a salt of formic acid, into formaldehyde. This enables the conversion of CO₂ into valuable raw materials.
Bio-based textile solutions
For a year now, researchers in the pHYBi project have been working to develop new approaches to circular and bio-based textile solutions through soil remediation and the use of biomass.
Valuable amides from wood waste
An international research team led by the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT) has developed a new, environmentally friendly process for effectively utilising the plant substance lignin to produce high-quality chemical compounds.
Interviews
17.10.2025 Joost Meyer
‘It is our mission to revolutionize the construction industry’
Wood fibers are the raw material the company Willowprint uses in 3D printing to create a building material that is completely recyclable and compostable.
Source
TUM
15.07.2025 Ute Weisz
‘Enzymes create proteins with customised properties’
Munich-based food technologist Ute Weisz specialises in the extraction, characterisation and modification of plant proteins in order to make them usable for the food industry.
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
Fighting mosquitoes and cockroaches with fungi
In the ‘Fungi 4 VectorControl’ project, researchers at Darmstadt Technical University are working with Argentine teams to develop a fungicide from fungi to combat mosquitoes.
Food production of the future
In the joint project CUBES Circle, a consortium of researchers from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is developing and testing a symbiotic production system for the preparation of food in cities.
Bioeconomy inside
Source
Maestro / stock.adobe.com
Reusable cup
Whether in muesli, as a crunchy salad topping, or to refine baked goods – sunflower seeds are incredibly versatile and packed with nutrients. They provide magnesium, folic acid, vitamin E, fiber, and high-quality plant-based protein.
How many tons of sunflower seeds were harvested in the EU in 2024?
This is how many were harvested in 2023.
Correct!
Source
Mycolutions GmbH
Sound Absorber
When neighbours play loud music at home or colleagues in the office are constantly on the phone, it can be not only annoying, but persistent noise often causes stress and is harmful to health.
What is the size of the largest fungal mycelium found to date?
Unfortunately, that is incorrect.
The largest specimen found to date is a dark honey fungus, which is considered to be the largest living organism on Earth.
Source
Formo Foods GmbH
Cheese alternative
For many, cheese is a staple – enjoyed with bread, pasta, or on its own at the end of a meal. For centuries, it has been a cornerstone of culinary traditions around the world.
What was the per capita cheese consumption in 2024?
That was the per capita consumption in 2021.
One kilogram more than in 2023.
Source
lomio.de
Furniture coating
Wooden furniture is typically coated in lacquer, varnish or plastic. Natural alternatives, such as oil or wax, are more environmentally friendly, but there are other options too.
How many pieces of furniture does the average household in Germany own?
Correct! According to studies, there are over 200 individual pieces of furniture.
That's wrong.
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!
Events
21.01.2026 bis 21.01.2026 Brüssel
Brokerage Event für Cluster 6 „Lebensmittel, Bioökonomie, natürliche Ressourcen, Landwirtschaft und Umwelt“ im Rahmen von Horizont Europa
04.02.2026 bis 04.02.2026 Stuttgart
Abschlusskonferenz der Allianz Biotenside
05.02.2026 bis 05.02.2026 Nossen