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Floods and droughts are presenting increasing challenges for agriculture throughout the world. For many years, therefore, research efforts have been focussed on the search for more resistant plants that can cope with the environmental challenges. "To do this, we need to gain a better understanding of important crop plants such as rice, which is reckoned to be the world's most important source of food," explains Michael Riemann of the Molecular Cell Biology working group at the KIT's Botanical Institute. To this end, Riemann's group of biologists at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology has teamed up with computer scientists to create a system that will aid in breeding new plant varieties. The system is called Risegran – Rice Seedlings Growth Analysis-System – and it was developed together with the startup da-cons with a view to analysing the growth rates of rice seedlings with the aid of a camera.

Measuring the effect of light on seedlings

The system consists of a box measuring 50 cm x 50 cm with internal illumination provided by 20 infra-red LEDs.  No light can penetrate the box from the outside. The grains of rice are allowed to germinate in a sealed plate in water agar, a transparent growth medium that also supplies the seedlings with water. At first, they grow in the dark. They are cultivated in the dark in order to make them especially sensitive to light, so that the effects of light can be measured.  A camera embedded in the wall of the box records the growth of the plants at hourly intervals. "The appearance of the seedlings changes completely depending on whether they are growing in the dark or not. However, the system is designed only to observe, not to influence. Therefore the box is constructed in such a way that no visible light impinges on the seedlings," explains Riemann.

The images taken by the camera are registered in detail by the Risegran system and evaluated automatically. The algorithm developed by da-cons uses the images to determine the length of the seedling, of the first leaf and of the root in each case. Also, the computer transfers the images automatically to a server from which the researchers can view them at any time.

New knowledge about familiar genes

The advantage of the system: By comparing genetically different types it is possible to work out the functions of certain genes that are responsible for resistance against all sorts of stress factors. "The system allows us to deduce hitherto unknown characteristics of known genes. The measurements can underpin molecular biological investigations aimed at identifying genes that make plants more resistant to certain stress factors such as soil salinization," says Riemann. The new camera system already makes it possible to determine the time of germination or measure the growth of certain tissue very exactly.

Building up an online database

The researchers' aim is to feed all the data into an online OpenData platform where scientists can publish their data and make it available to others. "Generally, the technical background processes and the user interface can be developed more effectively with genuine data than with test data," says da-cons development head Michael Kreim. The IT company uses the data records from the Risegran project to find out what the platform needs to be able to deliver and to test it.

Lactic acid bacteria, also known as lactobacilli, are in popular demand as aids and additives in the food industry. However, these useful microorganisms have considerably more potential, as the Organobalance company from Berlin has demonstrated in a clinical study. In its own proprietary collection of bacteria and yeast strains, the Organobalance researchers have now found an organism that can help to soothe dry skin: the bacterium Lactobacillus brevis DSMZ17250.

Extract mitigates inflammation and protects skin

During the study, the effect of a lactic acid bacteria extract was tested on test persons who suffer from chronic dry skin. After the four-week course of treatment, it could be seen that Lactobacillus brevis not only has an anti-inflammatory effect, but also promotes the colonization of the skin by protective, symbiotic microorganisms, as the team reports in the journal 'Beneficial Microbes'.

Bacteria improve microbiome of the skin

Daily use of the cell-free Lactobacillus extract then led to a significant improvement in the damaged skin. The lactic acid bacteria helped to reduce the loss of skin moisture, and therefore also markedly relieved symptoms such as itching, dryness or stinging. Also, the skin microbiota improved, and the proliferation of various bacterial strains such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, that have positive, protective effects on the skin, could be shown to be promoted.

Basis for new skin care products

"The extract that we have gained from natural bacteria can serve as the basis for various skin care products," says Organobalance's CEO Christine Lang. Organobalance has been developing products based on probiotic bacterium cultures as well as yeast production strains for foodstuffs, cosmetics, animal fodder, agriculture and the pharmaceutical industry since 2001. These products include probiotic active agents against caries, stomach disorders and body odour caused by bacteria. As of September, the bio-technology company from Berlin belongs to the Danish enzyme specialist Novozymes. Following the successful study, the skin-friendly bacterium extract will also be used in cosmetic products. To this end, the new candidate has been licenced out to Organobalance Medical AG, which will operate under the name of Belano Medical AG in future.

Even so, the pressure of competition is also increasing amongst the German producers of Gouda and other cheese. The demand for new flavours of cheese is rising and production processes must be optimized. In cheese manufacturing, raw materials alone account for 87% of the costs. Nutrition researchers at the Hohenheimer University in Bonn now aim to advance an era of 'Cheese 4.0' by establishing a new technology platform. The new process is aimed at simplifying the production of sliced cheese, in particular, which has a market share of 30%, and increasing its variety. "We have developed a completely new approach to two steps of the traditional cheese-making process: We simplify the lengthy forming and pressing stage and allow for the addition of new, flavour-inducing microorganisms at a later period," explains dairy scientist Jörg Hinrichs.

Making cheese production flexible

The technique will allow cheese manufacturers to make flexible modifications to both the taste and the shape of the dairy product in question without any extra effort. As Hinrichs explains, the most cost-intensive and elaborate part of cheese-making is the forming and pressing. "When the whey has been separated the remains must be pressed into a form for several hours so that it coagulates again. The forms have to be cleaned thoroughly, too," as Hinrichs points out.

An extruder forms the cheese faster

This is where the researchers from Bonn use an extruder. In a single step, the individual cheese fragments are subjected to pressure and temperature so they revert to a coherent mass of cheese. "If you then press this mass into a mould, the raw cheese already takes on its final shape – round, rectangular, oval or even heart-shaped. That process requires less time and space – without compromising quality," emphasizes Hinrichs.

More taste through modified flavour injection

Cheese gets its flavour from microorganisms. Normally, they are mixed into the milk at the very beginning, prior to the forming and pressing stage. Here, too, the researchers have adopted a new approach. "If one injects the aroma-generating microorganisms after the forming process, each wheel of cheese can ripen with its own individual aroma," explains Hinrichs. Not only can different microorganisms be tested faster, but also new flavours of cheese can be developed more quickly.

The project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, involves mathematicians as well as nutrition researchers at the Hohenstein University. The mathematicians use differential equations to determine the best location in the cheese for injecting the microorganisms so that the flavouring agents are distributed uniformly during the six weeks in which the cheese matures.

To avoid competition with food production, the EU research consortium "Bioconsept" was launched four years ago. Bioconsept is 13 million euro EU-funded research project, which converts second-generation biomass into valuable platform chemicals and bioplastics. It has developed manufacturing processes for two platform chemicals, which are derived from inedible biomass – such as wood or old vegetable oil. Twenty-nine European partners from industry, science, research and technology organisations, as well as small and medium sized enterprises have collaborated to implement these processes on an industry relevant scale. A balance was drawn up at a meeting in the Ständehaus in Merseburg on 10 and 11 November.

The four-year EU-funded BioConSepT research project has developed production processes based on non-edible biomass. In comparison to current processes for bioplastic production, they do not compete with food production and processes aim to be cheaper and more sustainable. The second-generation biomass used includes non-edible oils and fats, as well as lignocellulose (wood and straw). They are transformed into intermediates like biobased polymers, resins, plasticisers and solvents, which can be applied in bioplastic production.

Progress from biomass to applications

The whole production chain, from feedstock to final applications, is reflected in this European collaborative project. Chemical, enzymatical and microbial processes convert second-generation biomass, which cannot be used in food production, into valuable platform chemicals used for example in bioplastics. Robust enzymes and microorganisms, continuous processes, new bioreactors and selective purification technologies were important factors to reduce production cost.

Large-scale production

Upscaling of processes closes the gap from the lab to industrial production. The successful demonstration of production of furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and epoxides in product-relevant amounts shows the potential of second-generation biomass. Bioreactors with up to 1m3 produce about 100kg of both platform chemicals. They can be applied in packaging, in textiles as high strength fibres or in coatings and adhesives.

Final conference in Merseburg, Germany

The consortium invited the international chemical industry to Merseburg, Germany, from 10th – 11th November to showcase BioConSepT results. The conference focused on the upscaling of production of FDCA and enzymatic epoxidation to an industrially relevant scale. It included a visit to the piloting facilities of Fraunhofer CBP in Leuna, where some of the processing steps have been conducted. The consortium also presented the project’s most promising results from other bio-based chemical production chains.The EU consortium has tested the production of platform chemicals from biomass at pilot plants like this one at the Fraunhofer Research CBP in Leuna.

The Bioeconomy Council of the German Government had invited delegates from all over the world to Berlin to attend this first Global Bioeconomy Summit from 24 - 26 November. At the end, the participants agreed on a final communiqé, highlighting five priorities. Summing up with regard to the Sustainable Development Summit in New York and the upcoming climate negotiations in Paris, Christine Lang, Co-Chair of the Bioeconomy Council, said, "Sustainability is one of the top issues on the political agenda. 2015 is the year of major international negotiations. The Global Bioeconomy Summit layed the foundations to integrate the bioeconomy in this process."

About 700 participants from 82 countries came together for the first time in Berlin to exchange views on how the bioeconomy will play an even greater role in the future at an international level, and how it can be included in the agendas of existing negotiating processes.

At the end, they defined a common goal: to use fewer fossil resources and to use renewable resources instead. However, there are a great number of challenges to overcome along this route. In a final communiqué (more information: PDF Download) the participants of the Global Bioeconomy Summit defined five priorities of a global political agenda on sustainable bioeconomy:

• To use renewable resources, ensure food security and protect the ecosystem.
• The bioeconomy's contributions towards the Sustainable Development Goals should be rendered measurable
• Economic and scientific collaboration should be promoted and
• Education, joint learning and dialogue should be driven forward, and
• Not just individual sections but the bioeconomy as a whole should be considered in the global negotiations for COP 21, the Sustainable Development Goals and trade.
• The film presents some highlights of the conference.

Bioeconomy is unterrepresented as international policy issue

Daniel Barben, member of the Global Bioeconomy Summit conference committee, said, "In view of the fact that 45 countries in the world are pursuing bioeconomy strategies, the bioeconomy is underrepresented as an international policy issue. This Summit has shown that we are taking a step in the right direction."

More than 100 international speakers presented policy concepts and concrete examples on over 60 posters and eleven discussion rounds during the conference in Berlin. The FAO, the OECD, the European Commission and the International Energy Agency also took part in the Summit with their own workshops. The German Bioeconomy Council presented comprehensive studies on the bioeconomy: an analysis of the global political importance of the bioeconomy  and a Delphi study featuring flagship projects (more information: PDF Download).

Need of international coordination

The overall aim of the Global Bioeconomy Summit is to strenghten the global visibility of bioeconomy. Joachim von Braun, Co-Chair of the Bioeconomy Council, said, "Germany has a global top position in bioeconomy. This brings us in a responsible position to share our knowledge. Together with our partners we will ensure that the results of the Summit are incorporated in international discussions." The Bioeconomy Council's goal, therefore is for the Global Bioeconomy Summit to take place again in two years' time. "We await suggestions for the next location", Christine Lang said in her final remarks.

© bioökonomie.de/sw

According to Gilles Laroche, Head of Unit F1 – Bioeconomy Strategy– at DG Research and Innovation, “the review won’t be finalised before mid-2017 and the results will be available only in autumn 2017”. Prior plans foresaw the announcement of the results at the end of 2016. “The review will provide the Commission with the facts and figures on how the strategy has been implemented over the last three years, which will enable us to robustly underpin decisions about the future orientation of the strategy”, John Bell, Director for Bioeconomy, told European Biotechnology in an interview. 

A Brussels insider said he was concerned about the fate of the bioeconomy programme, which has already attracted huge investments from the biotech industry. The European Commission’s (EC) working plan 2016/17, which lays the foundation for future funding calls, didn’t mention the bioeconomy once. The review of the bioeconomy strategy and action plan is thus thought to form the foundation for a decision on whether the bioeconomy will be funded independently or absorbed into the circular economy strategy, a huge waste prevention programme. In the programme, promoted by EC Vice President Frans Timmermans, biotech’s role is still up in the air. “Bioeconomy is a broader concept than the circular economy”, the insider stressed, “It’s renewable, carbon-neutral, and offers reusability in cascades and products with completely new properties.”

Currently, the EC is setting up an expert group, including experts from national bioeconomy councils, that will review the strategy and action plan adopted in 2012. According to Laroche, a European Manifesto for Bioeconomy is also in preparation and is due to be published around mid-2017.

BASF and Avantium have formed a joint venture for the production and marketing of the green building block furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and the drop-in bioplastic polyethylene furanoate (PEF) made from FDCA. Synvina will be headquartered in Amsterdam and will invest several hundred millions euros to build a plant producing 50,000 metric tons annually at BASF’s Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium, to demonstrate feasibility of manufacture at industrial scale and to license production.

FDCA will be manufactured from biomass such as maize, which is degraded to fructose prior to using Avantium’s  YXY process. Synvina will be a major competitor to PLA and FDCA producer Corbion Purac, which has developed a technology that allows production of non-outgazing, lightweight, 100% bio-based PEF bottles in extisting production plants. However, also other competitors such as DuPont, Eastman Kodak and AVA Biochem have developed appropriate platforms to produce PEF and its bio-based building blocks.

Back in 2014, Avantium Technologies BV announced it will build the world’s very first industrial production plant with financial support of Swire Pacific, The Coca-Cola Company, Danone, and ALPLA.

FDCA is a promising platform chemical and a building block for PEF polyesters suitable for food and beverage packaging as well as for fibers for carpets and textiles. For the packaging industry, PEF offers improved characteristics compared to commodity plastics such as PET, such as improved barrier properties for carbon dioxide and oxygen, leading to a longer shelf life of packaged products. It also offers a higher mechanical strength, thus thinner PEF packaging can be produced and fewer resources are required. PEF is suitable for foil pouches, bottles for carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks, water, dairy products, still and sports drinks and alcoholic beverages as well as personal and home care products. Alongside the polyester PEF, FDCA can be processed to polyamides for engineering plastics and fibers, to polyurethanes for foams, coatings and adhesives and to esters for personal care products and lubricants.

With Mitsui, Synvina will work on developing PEF thin films and PEF bottles in Japan. Furthermore, Synvina aims to continue the development partnerships with The Coca Cola Company, Danone, ALPLA and other companies on the Joint Development Platform for PEF bottles.

The researchers' report on their discovery in the 'PNAS' specialist journal. In addition to carbon dioxide, methane is a climate killer that presents a long-term threat to life on earth. However, for many terrestrial and marine microorganisms this greenhouse gas is the elixir of life. The microbes oxidize the carbon dioxide and extract energy from the process. This means that they can exist under extreme conditions without oxygen, e.g. in hot wells. It has long been surmised that some microbes feed on rust as well as methane. Now, for the first time, researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology have found the evidence to confirm this. Together with researchers from the University of Radboud they encountered a hitherto unknown microbe that converts methane to carbon dioxide with the aid of iron.

As reported in the journal PNAS by the team led by MPI microbiologist Boran Kartal, the conversion process releases reduced iron that is then available for use by other organisms. This sets a whole avalanche of processes going, and the rust-eating microbe exercises an influence on both the iron and the methane cycles.

Primaeval microbe discovered in the laboratory

The iron-dependent methane oxidizer is a so-called archaeum (literally: 'ancient thing'). The researchers actually found the organism in an environmental sample that had been kept in the laboratory for years. The material came from the Twentekanaal in the Netherlands. "We took a look at this microorganism's genetic fingerprint and guessed that it could metabolize particulate iron – which is basically what we call rust – in the course of oxidizing methane. And lo and behold – it can," reports Boran Kartal.

The skill-set needed to clean waste water

The researchers are sure that the newly discovered archaeum plays an important role regarding emissions of the greenhouse gas methane. But that is not all. "That is important for wastewater treatment," says Kartal, who just recently transferred from Radboud University to the Max Planck Institute in Bremen. "It is possible to build a bioreactor containing two different microorganisms which can metabolize both methane and ammonium without oxygen. One could use the reactor to extract ammonium, methane and oxidized nitrogen from the wastewater simultaneously, with harmless nitrogen and carbon dioxide gas being produced as a result," explains Kartal. This study closes a significant gap in our understanding of anaerobic methane oxidation. In the next step, Kartal and his team want to establish which protein complexes are involved in this process.

Deforestation and climate change are putting more and more pressure on the forest ecosystem. Not only are the habitats of many animals under threat, the capacity of forests to absorb CO₂ and emit oxygen is diminishing as well. A comprehensive international study now reveals the positive influence of biodiversity on global forest productivity. The investigation, published in the journal 'Science', covers around 30 million trees, including 8,700 species ranging from mangroves to tropical wet forest trees, Central European trees, trees in tundras and dry savannahs and Mediterranean trees. Researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) also participated in this study. Over 770,000 sample sites in 44 countries were evaluated. "A gigantic amount of data on biodiversity and productivity from nearly 50 countries throughout the world was processed, something that has never been done before in this scientific field," as co-author Hans Pretzsch from the TUM's Chair of Forest Growth and Yield Science points out.

Understanding the forest ecosystem better

The study is the first major undertaking of the new Global Forest Biodiversity Initiative (GFBI), a network established just this year. The international and interdisciplinary research group intends to deepen our understanding of interrelationships concerning the world’s largest forest ecosystems. The GFBI study includes the most important forest ecosystems throughout the world. It reveals that loss of species diversity leads to massive reductions in the productivity of forests. That is not all, however. Forests with different tree species such as mixed forests with beech and pine not only enjoy many ecological and social advantages, but they also produce significantly more wood. "The inventories and experimental plot data going back over 150 years show how the wood yield reduced in parallel with the number of species, and how reverting from monocultures to mixed stands enables it to increase again," explains Pretsch.

In Germany, too, many mixed forests were converted to monocultures during the 1950s and 1960s. This strategy is now a thing of the past. Pretsch reports: "These days, forestry regulations in many countries state that stands of trees should consist of two or three species wherever possible." As early as 2007, the German government began to implement the 'National Biological Diversity Strategy' (NBS) by supporting innovations to protect and sustainably develop biodiversity. The 'BioHolz' joint project was inaugurated nearly a year ago. Funded with 3.2 million euros, the project will investigate new options for sustainable forestry.

Loss of diversity costs billions

The study also puts a figure on the losses that continued loss of diversity would cause for the forestry industry: The authors assume that a loss of diversity of 99% would lead to loss of yield as well, and this would equate to a value reduction of between 166 and around 490 billion US dollars. In such a case the losses would exceed the costs of worldwide efforts to maintain biodiversity by a factor of two. In addition, the loss of genetic diversity and of protection and recuperation capacities would also be significantly greater than the anticipated reduction in wood yield.

This acquisition is the biggest of its kind by a German firm. Bayer's acquisition of Monsanto for 66 billion US dollars is now set to go ahead. The regulators have yet to approve the deal, however. According to the German chemical corporation, it is willing to pay 128 dollars per share, valuing Monsanto at 66 billion dollars. That works out at about 58.8 billion euros. Data from financial news agency Bloomberg indicate that this is the second-largest cash acquisition in world history.

Certain conditions need to be fulfilled before the deal can actually take effect. The EU Commission has already announced that it will undertake a thorough assessment of the acquisition. Other regulators will also have to approve the deal. The takeover is to be financed through credit. Various banks will provide Bayer a bridging loan of more than 57 billion dollars. The Germans have committed to paying the Americans a further 2 billion dollars should the acquisition be blocked by antitrust regulators.

Driving digitalization in farming

Acquisition talks have already been ongoing for the past four months since Bayer first announced that it wanted to take over the US corporation. Monsanto had previously declined all offers, however, which led to a high-stakes poker game. The Americans seem to have gotten lucky with their strategy: It led to an increase of 44% on the first offer.

Bayer and Monsanto’s merger, according to plans in Leverkusen, will involve consolidating platforms in seeds and crop traits, plant protection, biological agents and digital farming. This has resulted in a win-win situation for the Germans: Monsanto's strengths lie in seeds and the breeding of plants with particular traits. In return, Bayer offers an extensive crop protection portfolio. The merger would result in the newly created corporation becoming the world's biggest agrochemical conglomerate. The two companies would also complement each other geographically, according to Bayer. As recently as May, Bayer took over the start-up Proplanta, a spinoff from the University of Munster.

The Bayer team responsible for the deal emphasize how its established presence in North and South America could be expanded substantially and its position in Europe and Asia Pacific strengthened. "We've been impressed by Monsanto for a long time," Bayer CEO Werner Baumann justifies the move despite the storm of criticism faced by the Germans. The Americans' leading role in biotechnology and their use of digital farming technology were a major factor in making them attractive to the Germans as a company. The Leverkusen-based concern projects annual savings of around 1.5 billion dollars as early as three years into the merger.

US corporation under fire

This acquisition, however, means that the Germans are taking on the mantle of one of the most heavily criticized corporations in the world. The company markets the controversial herbicide glyphosate and has come under particularly heavy criticism from environmental organizations because of its use of GMO technologies.

Nevertheless, Bayer considers this to be a particularly lucrative deal. This is because, given the growing world population and the demand for more food, the supply of crop protection agents to farmers will likely continue to increase. Bayer estimates that the market for crop protection and seeds will be worth 120 billion euros by 2025, some 35 billion euros more than in 2015. Additionally, the two corporations have a combined R&D budget of 2.5 billion euros, emphasized Bayer. The corporation recently agreed a joint project with the Research Centre in Jülich to study roots.

Ultimately, the acquisition represents a proactive step on the part of the German company in order to avoid losing out in the mergers and takeovers free-for-all. The agrochemical market is currently experiencing a period of upheaval, and competitors are keeping an eye on things, too. American corporations Dupont and Dow-Chemical announced their merger at the end of 2015, and in turn the state-owned Chinese corporation Chemchina purchased Swiss firm Syngenta for 43 billion dollars. Experts predict that in the end only three providers will remain in the market, and the acquisition means that Bayer is well placed to be one of them.

Synthetisch hergestellter Phosphordünger wird als elementarer Pflanzennährstoff in enormen Mengen auf Feldern ausgebracht. Die Reserven an Rohphosphaten sind begrenzt und müssen in die EU importiert werden. Das Eu-geförderte Projekt PhosFarm forscht nun daran, organisch gebundenen Phosphor aus landwirtschaftlichen Reststoffen als Quelle für Phosphatdünger zu erschließen. Immobilisierte Enzyme sollen die organischen Verbindungen kappen und den Phosphor so für die Rückgewinnung freisetzen.

In der EU wurden 2008 etwa 1,4 Millionen Tonnen Phosphor für die Produktion von synthetischem Dünger verbraucht. Die Quellen für mineralischen Phosphor sind begrenzt. Viele Länder sind abhängig von Importen aus China, Marokko, Tunesien oder den USA. Gleichzeitig fallen in der EU jedes Jahr mehr als 1800 Millionen Tonnen Gülle an, die hohe Konzentrationen des Elements aufweisen. Unter der Koordination des Fraunhofer-Instituts für Grenzflächen- und Bioverfahrenstechnik IGB in Stuttgart forschen Ingenieure und Wissenschaftler aus fünf europäischen Ländern daran, den wertvollen Stoff Für die Landwirtschaft wieder verfügbar zu machen.

Enzyme bringen die Lösung

Dabei setzen die Forscher auf hydrolisierende Enzyme. Diese werden an geeigneten Trägern, wie etwa Partikeln, Membranen oder anderen Oberflächen fixiert. „Wir konnten bereits in vorausgehenden Versuchen am Fraunhofer IGB zeigen, dass diese Enzyme in der Lage sind, anorganisches Phosphat aus Modellverbindungen abzuspalten“, erläutert Jennifer Bilbao, die das Projekt am IGB leitet. Die sogenannten immobilisierten Enzyme sorgen also dafür, dass die Moleküle im flüssigen Anteil der Gülle vorliegen. „Nach Abtrennung der festen Phase kann das gelöste Phosphat aus der flüssigen Fraktion als Magnesiumammoniumphosphat oder Calciumphosphat gefällt werden. Diese Salze sind gut pflanzenverfügbar und direkt als Dünger einsetzbar", so Bilbao weiter.

Maximale Wertschöpfung

Übrig bleibt eine feste Phase, die nur noch getrocknet werden muss. Um dem Paradigma der Nachhaltigkeit zu genügen, geschieht dies mit einem energieeffizienten Prozess: So produzieren die Ingenieure keine heiße Luft, sondern verwenden stattdessen überhitzten Wasserdampf, der die feste Phase entwässert. Das getrocknete Produkt wird anschließend zu einem Substrat aufgearbeitet, das die Bodenfruchtbarkeit verbessern soll. Abhängig von der Bodenbeschaffenheit oder der Pflanzenart lässt sich dieser Bodenverbesserer mit den zurückgewonnenen phosphorhaltigen Salzen vermengen. Das Stickstoff-Phosphor-Verhältnis kann so speziell angepasst werden.

Kunst-Dünger einsparen und Gülle ersetzen

„Mit den gewonnenen mineralischen Phosphatdüngern und den organischen Bodenverbesserern können synthetische Phosphatdünger eingespart und eine Überdüngung durch das direkte Ausbringen von Gülle vermieden werden“, sagt Bilbao. Die Europäische Union fördert das Projekt „PhosFarm – Process for sustainable phosphorus recovery from agricultural residues by enzymatic process to enable a service business for the benefit of European farm community“ mit Geldern aus dem 7. Forschungsrahmenprogramm. Neben den Stuttgarter IGB sind Forschungsinstitute und Unternehmen für Maschinenbau und Verfahrenstechnik aus den Ländern Belgien, Spanien, der Niederlande und Schweden an den Arbeiten beteiligt.

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Biokunststoffe werden in immer mehr Bereichen eingesetzt. Joghurtbecher, Getränkeverpackungen oder Tragetaschen werden aus dem Plastik aus nachwachsenden Rohstoffen gefertigt. Doch wie nachhaltig und umweltschonend sind die Produkte wirklich? Darüber diskutierten am 25. und 26. September Experten aus dem ganzen Bundesgebiet auf dem Fachkongress „Biobasierte Polymere – Kunststoffe der Zukunft“. Komplexe Lebenszyklusanalysen könnten helfen, Fragen zur Nachhaltigkeit zu beantworten. Die stehen aber noch aus. Bereits jetzt zeichnet sich jedoch ab: Kompostierbarkeit allein ist keine Eigenschaft, die aus einem Bio- ein ökologisch sinnvolles Produkt macht.

Ausgerechnet das Umweltforum Auferstehungskirche in Berlin hatte die Fachagentur für nachwachsende Rohstoffe (FNR) als Veranstaltungort ausgesucht. Nomen est omen könnte man meinen: Nachdem sich die Rauchsschwaden im Abwehrkampf der Deutschen Umwelthilfe (DUH) gegen das ungeliebte Bioplastik etwas gelegt haben, zeigen sich Politik, Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft weiter von den Vorzügen der grünen Polymere überzeugt. Der Umweltverband kritisierte vor wenigen Monaten, dass die Konzerne mit den Biokunststoffen lediglich Green-Washing betrieben, zu schlecht sei deren Umweltbilanz im Vergleich zu konventionellen Werkstoffen.

Bioplastik-Streit landete vor Gericht

Mit dem Joghurtproduzenten Danone stritt die DUH schließlich vor Gericht um die Umwelteigenschaften eines aus Maisstärke produzierten Bechers. Die Auseinandersetzung endete mit einem Vergleich: Danone versprach, Werbeaussagen zu den Umwelteigenschaften auf der Packung zu präzisieren, die DUH beendete zog daraufhin die Klage zurück. Als Rewe und Aldi Tüten aus biobasiertem, nicht abbaubarem Bio-PE in die Läden brachten, zog die DUH auch gegen diese beiden Unternehmen ins Feld. Die Folge: Die umstrittenen Tragetaschen verschwanden bald wieder aus den Geschäften.

In der Branche herrscht einige Verunsicherung. Die Unterstützung aus Politik und Wirtschaft für das biobasierte Plastik ist indes ungebrochen. Gut möglich also, dass die neuen Werkstoffe auch im Endkundengeschäft bald eine Renaissance feiern. Aus dem Streit um PLA-Joghurtbecher (Danone) oder Einkaufstüten aus Bio-PE (Rewe, Aldi) haben viele der rund 170 Konferenzteilnehmer dennoch ihre Lehren gezogen: In den Chor der positiven Stimmen mischen sich leise kritische Zwischentöne. So sagte beispielsweise Hans-Josef Endres von der Hochschule Hannover: „Ich glaube, es ist der richtige Weg, den wir im Bereich erneuerbare Energien eingeschlagen haben. Vielleicht ist das Pendel aber etwas zu weit ausgeschlagen.“

Ökobilanz als Entscheidungshilfe

Jens Högel vom Generaldirektorat Forschung und Innovation der Europäischen Kommission warnte vor zu hohen Erwartungen an das Bioplastik: „Es wird keine Quantensprünge geben.“ Die Branche sieht er trotzdem auf einem guten Weg: „Aus heutiger Sicht ist es möglich, durch den Einsatz von biobasierten Polymeren den Energieverbrauch um die Hälfte und die CO2-Emissionen um rund zwei Drittel zu senken.“ Die Bundesregierung setzt beim Aufbau einer biobasierten Wirtschaft ebenfalls auf die grünen Polymere. „Die stoffliche Nutzung nachwachsender Rohstoffe ist fester Bestandteil der Rohstoffstrategie der Bundesregierung“, betonte Peter Bleser, Parlamentarischer Staatssekretär im Bundeslandwirtschaftsministerium.

Mit harten Zahlen will die Branche beweisen, dass der Einsatz der Biokunststoffe nicht nur ökonomisch, sondern auch ökologisch Sinn ergibt. Lebenszyklusanalysen und Ökobilanzen sollen die Datenbasis liefern. Noch ist aber nicht vollkommen klar, wie sich einzelne Posten gegeneinander abgrenzen lassen.

Runder Tisch von Herstellern und Umweltverbänden

Zur Entwicklung eines gemeinsamen Nachhaltigkeitsstandards haben sich Hersteller und Umweltverbände inzwischen in der Initiative Inro zusammengeschlossen, berichtet Michaele Hustedt von der Beratungsfirma CPC Berlin. Einige allgemeine Trends lassen sich schon jetzt erkennen. So setzt sich beispielsweise zunehmend die Erkenntnis durch, dass Bioabbaubarkeit allein fast nie ausreicht, um aus einem Biokunststoff ein ökologisch sinnvolles Produkt zu machen. „Viele Entsorger behandeln kompostierbares Plastik in der Biotonne als Störstoff“, so der Rechtsanwalt Christoph Werner. Andere Experten weisen darauf hin, dass die energetische Verwertung der Stoffe aus ökobilanzieller Sicht eh besser sei. Thomas Hirth vom Fraunhofer IGB stellte fest: „Bioabbaubare Kunststoffe sind ein Beispiel, wo man zu schnell zu viel erreichen wollte.“ In der Industrie werden derzeit ohnehin Drop-in-Lösungen favorisiert, bei denen Kunststoffe ohne großes Umrüsten auf den bisherigen Maschinen verwendet werden können. Jüngst kündigte Coca Cola an, für die Produktion von Getränkeflaschen künftig auch Bio-PET nutzen zu wollen.

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Berlin-based Organobalance specializes in developing natural microbial solutions for customers and partners across a number of industries. They explore the vast potential of microorganisms for the development of highly innovative and natural compounds and products for the fields of food, feed, personal care, agriculture, the chemical and the pharmaceutical industry.

Now, the company with a staff of 29  has been bought up by Danish industrial enzymes and microorganism expert Novozymes for an undisclosed amount.

“The experience of Organobalance’s founding scientists, and the company’s know-how, immediately strengthen Novozymes’ existing capabilities within microbial technologies,” says Sebastian Søderberg, Vice President for New Business Development, Incubation & Acquisitions at Novozymes. “Organobalance will advance our understanding to develop new, sustainable solutions across industries, and provide us with additional commercial opportunities.”

Based in Berlin and Flensburg, the company was founded in 2001 by Christine Lang, who will continue as General Manager. Lang commented: “By becoming part of Novozymes, we will have access to a global R&D network and an extensive infrastructure to bring products to market – a clear advantage for us and our customers."

Following the acquisition, Organobalance will be integrated into Novozymes’ global organization but will continue to be based in Germany so as to benefit from the established biotechnology capabilities of the country’s capital region and the company’s strong ties to German academia, innovation environments, and markets.

“Organobalance and Novozymes possess similar ambitions and company cultures,” says Sebastian Søderberg. “Both companies strongly believe that innovative biological solutions can make a real, positive difference in the world and help tackle many of modern society’s biggest challenges. Together, our solutions fundamentally allow customers to produce more from less, reduce environmental impact, improve health and replace chemicals.”

Researchers from Karlsruhe have now uncovered how clover and fungi 'make friends' with each other. The thread-like fungal hyphae of the mycorrhiza permeate the soil and lead to increased root growth, as the team reports in the scientific journal Current Biology (2016, online publication). Fungi such as downy mildew or grey mould are a plague for both hobby gardeners as well as farmers. But there are also many fungi that enter into symbiosis with plants so that both partners profit. Over 80% of all land plants enter into close-knit associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi ('AM fungi'), which promote their growth. As fungi cannot perform photosynthesis, they get essential carbohydrates from the plant. In return, the fungus supplies the plant with water and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphate, as well as protecting it from pests. Interestingly enough, neither soils poor in nutrients nor other stress factors impair the symbiosis.

An unusual degree of adaptability

But how does this amicable bond come about? That is the question that researchers from the Botanical Institute of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have posed. A working group led by Natalia Requena studied the molecular processes that take place while a symbiosis comes into being. "A plant that enters into a symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi must adapt in a manner that is unusual and precisely controlled," explains Natalia Requena.

A gene switch controls root cortex development

As the scientists report in the scientific journal Current Biology, a certain gene is responsible for this. It is activated by the AM fungus in a targeted way, and that is what influences the development of the plant root. The transcription factor concerned is MIG1. It changes the development of the root cortex by causing more and larger root cortex cells to develop, and the diameter of the roots increases markedly. The study also showed that when the activity of MIG1 diminishes, this leads to deformed arbuscules.

The plant is the 'director' of the symbiosis

The role played by the gene was revealed to Requena's team through their investigation of a plant species from the burclover genus: Medicago truncatula. "As soon as it detects a semiochemical (signalling substance) that is emitted by the fungus, the plant activates its genetic programme for such a symbiosis – before it even has physical contact with the fungus," reports Natalia Requena. The investigation showed that it is the plant that 'calls the tune' for the most part as the symbiosis comes into being. The colonization of plant roots by AM fungi is restricted to the epidermal tissue and the cortex. The cellular threads of the fungus, the so-called hyphae, penetrate deeply into the root cortex and form ramified structures called arbuscules. The partnership is consummated, so to speak, by the plant enveloping these arbuscules with a 'periarbuscular membrane' that is specially synthesized for the purpose.

They have names like field bindweed, ragweed or couch grass – but poppies and corncockle count amongst them as well. For farmers, all these plants are weeds. Nature conservationists, on the other hand, speak of wild herbs or 'arable flora'. Many weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides, hindering the growth of actual crops in the process. The consequences can already be measured in terms of lower harvests.

Tackling weeds without herbicides

In order to ensure that enough food can still be grown in the future, scientists from Germany, Norway and Denmark have joined forces in the 'Sweedhart' project. They want to keep the wild plants at bay and reduce the global weed infestation of arable land. "Our approach is to investigate ways of limiting the weed infestation without having to use herbicides," explains Christoph Glasner from the Fraunhofer UMSICHT Institute that is coordinating the research project which began in May.

Disinfecting seeds in the combine harvester

'Sweedhart' is one of 14 European projects that are being funded by the EU as part of FACCE SURPLUS (Sustainable and resilient agriculture for food and non-food systems) with a total of 1.45 million euros. Here, it is not so much the radical extermination of the generally unpopular weeds that is at the focus of the research, but rather their potential. For the harvest includes about 25% of hay and straw, as well as energy-rich weeds. However, this source of biomass dissipates if it is not treated appropriately: Generally it just stays on the field so that the next generation of weeds can proliferate anew.  This is something the researchers want to change. "So one of the aims of Sweedhart is to disinfect the weed seeds during harvesting by exposing them to the exhaust heat of the combine harvester, thus suppressing the weeds' capacity to germinate," explains Glasner.

Using the weeds' potential as energy suppliers

Next, the scientists want to find ways of utilizing the weeds as a source of biomass. For instance, energy-rich weeds could serve as source materials for generating renewable energy through combustion or for manufacturing novel materials, or for producing new types of fodder.  "On conclusion of the project we want to provide a catalogue of successful as well as sustainable measures that prevent weeds on fields from being a burden and counteract the growing problems of herbicide resistance and invasive weed proliferation," summarizes Glasner. The researchers are convinced that the use of weeds for biomass production is both a decisive step towards sustainable agriculture as well as a factor that will underpin the shift towards a bio-based economy.

As well as the Fraunhofer UMSICHT Institute, the Westphalian agricultural machine manufacturer Claas and the universities for science and technology in Norway and Copenhagen are participating in Sweedhart.

Light vehicles that consume little and are therefore less environmentally problematical – that is how the car of the future should be. The foundation for next-generation-but-one vehicle technology has just been laid in the car manufacturing city of Wolfsburg. In the presence of Federal Minister of Research Johanna Wanka, the LeichtbauCampus Open Hybrid Lab Factory was inaugurated at a location not far from the headquarters of VW. The research factory is a figurehead public-private investment project. The Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), the State of Lower Saxony, the City of Wolfsburg as well as industrial partners headed by Volkswagen have so far invested about 60 million euros in the construction and equipment of the new four-storey building in the Hermann-Münch-Straße.

200 million euros for lightweight construction research

Building began in December 2014. There are now new offices, laboratories and a technology centre for 200 employees and 150 students covering a total of 5,200 m². A further 200 million euros are to be invested in research projects at the LeichtbauCampus over the coming 15 years. The BMBF is to supply 30 million euros of that sum as part of the 'Forschungscampus – öffentlich-private Partnerschaft für Innovationen' (Research campus – public-private partnership for innovation') funding initiative. "The research factory is the result of a fruitful cooperation between science and industry that has received acknowledgement far beyond the limits of Wolfsburg itself. This is where the car of the future is being developed," declared Federal Minister of Research Johanna Wanka on the occasion of the campus' official opening on 22 September in Wolfsburg. Wanka went on to say that the research factory would enable faster implementation of new products, techniques and services.

Concentrating competence

The LeichtbauCampus demonstrates a new type of cooperation between science and industry. This is where experts from universities, research facilities and industry will be able to work together on equal terms and bundle their various areas of competence to pursue research into lightweight construction. Under the aegis of the Automotive Research Centre of the Technical University of Brunswick (Technische Universität Braunschweig), Volkswagen, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft as well as seven other internationally active companies and many other project participants will be cooperating under one roof. The Open Hybrid Lab Factory is to be a breeding ground for key technologies for vehicle chassis and drive systems of the coming car generations. These are to be economically viable in series production. "This campus is to set standards in the development of low-emission, safe and nevertheless cheaper vehicles. It is to be a trailblazer for research in the field of vehicular lightweight construction," explained Matthias Müller, Volkswagen's CEO.

Towards a sustainable automotive industry

To date, lightweight construction solutions have been expensive and inefficient in their use of resources, so they have remained niche products. The newly opened research campus is to change that. To this end, the partners want to continue development of so-called hybrid design. The entire value-creation chain for hybrid components is to be taken into account, from the earliest design phase to manufacturing, from the manufacturing processes to recycling. The aim is to assemble different materials such as metal, plastic and textile structures into lightweight components in such a way that they can hold their own against conventional cars regarding safety standard and performance. "Lighter, but still safe – those are important parameters on the path to a sustainable automotive industry," emphasized Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Stephan Weil as well.

The research factory will house representatives of three different Fraunhofer institutes: the Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (IFAM), the Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (IWU) and the Institute for Wood Research Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut (WKI). They will contribute their competence in the fields of lightweight construction and electromobility. This concentrated know-how is also to be of benefit to students and young researchers.

Whether in ice cream, pizza, chocolate or biodiesel, palm oil is one of the world's most versatile plant-based oils. That makes it one of the most important raw materials for the bio-based economy. Demand today is higher than ever. About 60 million tonnes of palm oil and palm-kernel oil are produced annually. The area cultivated worldwide is 17 million hectares, about half the land mass of Germany. Around 1.8 million tonnes of palm oil are consumed each year here. The lion's share, 41 per cent, is used in the manufacturing of biodiesel. A further 40 per cent flows into food and feed products. 17 per cent is used for drugs and cleaning agents.

For years, environmental activists have warned that the growing demand for this plant is damaging human beings and the environment alike. Deforestation in order to make way for new areas of cultivation in countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, where the need for the majority of the world's supply of palm oil is met, is leading to the extinction of many animal species such as orang-utans, as well as displacing local populations.

Alternative species of plants are little better

For the first time, environmental protection organisation WWF has undertaken a study on the ecological consequences for Germany of doing without palm oil or of replacing it with other plant species. The authors of this WWF study, "Auf der Ölspur", which was completed by consultation firm Agripol, came to the conclusion: There is no future without palm oil. It was noted in particular that replacing it with other plant-based oils without proper consideration would only displace the problem and might even make it worse.

Higher demand for agricultural land and increased C02 emissions

Palm-oil plants have an enormous yield of 3.3 tonnes per hectare. Rapeseed, coconut and sunflower plants produce only around 0.7 tonnes per hectare. According to the study, more land would be required for cultivation if coconut or soya oil were to replace palm oil. In turn, that would mean an increase in emissions of carbon dioxide, a harmful greenhouse gas, as well as endangering various animal and plant species.

Time for a change of tack

The authors of the report believe that it would be less damaging to global biodiversity if plants native to Germany such as rapeseed or sunflowers were used for oil. Even if that were to occur, however, there would still be limited land available for cultivation, it was found. WWF therefore sees only one way forward: the cultivation of palm-oil plants must be "environmentally and socially responsible in all cases". They are therefore demanding that politics and society urgently get to grips with the ecological, economic and social changes necessary to ensure that. According to them, not only the methods of growing palm oil have to change, but also how it is consumed.

No palm oil as biofuel and less snacking

The suggestion: no more palm oil as biofuel and a more informed approach towards consuming chocolate, crisps and so on. That would lead to a reduction of almost 50 per cent in Germany's palm-oil consumption. WWF representatives are also demanding that the government impose stricter rules on importers of palm oil regarding ecological and social sustainability criteria and completely halt the use of palm oil as a biofuel. Companies should be required to change to 100 per cent certified-sustainable palm oil with immediate effect, binding suppliers to that obligation. They should also be required to participate in initiatives such as the "Forum nachhaltiges Palmöl" (Sustainable palm oil forum) and the "Palm Oil Innovators Group".

In July 2013, the German Federal Government has been put structures in place to facilitate the development of a biobased economy by means of the "National Policy Strategy Bioeconomy". A co-ordinated and cross-departmental package of measures introduced under the auspices of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) aimed to motivate players in science and business to use more renewable resources and biological waste in the development of new products and processes. The strategy was built on the "National Research Strategy Bioeconomy" which was started in 2010 by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

A large variety of biobased products, processes and services have now reached the market, demonstrating the rapid development of the German bioeconomy. The bioeconomy can thus be considered the driving force behind innovative business ideas in several industrial sectors. A recent study has shown that the Green economy is the second-largest growth area for German start-ups.

A positive balance sheet

German Federal Government grant schemes have sparked a considerable change in direction in research and the economy, and have encouraged innovative green ideas to take hold. That is demonstrated in the progress report published by the interdepartmental working group (IMAG), which is involved in the implementation of the National Policy Strategy Bioeconomy under the chairmanship of BMEL. Taking stock, the working group sees a positive balance:  according to the report, Germany is well on the road towards creating a sustainable bioeconomy.

Innovating through grant programmes

The experts believe that the policy strategy’s principal goals and ideas have found their way into policies across various ministries, the design of funding programmes and measures. International agreements as well as national and international symposia also helped to contribute towards the strategy goals. In its 75-page report, the working group published a list detailing to what degree the more than 70 individual bioeconomy-related measures mentioned in the strategy have been implemented.

Now bio-engineers from Halle have found a way of manufacturing carnosic acid using biotechnology. As the team reports in the scientific journal 'Nature Communications', they do that by using reprogrammed yeast as a cell factory. With its powerful aroma, rosemary counts as one of the most popular kitchen herbs. The cause of the distinctive taste is the vegetable substance carnosic acid. It is also found in sage leaves. But carnosic acid is not only in demand as a flavourer. The vegetable-based substance is also used as a natural anti-oxidation agent, especially in meat products, oils, fats, sauces and animal fodder, to make products keep longer. The pharmaceuticals industry also uses it as the basis for bio-active substances that are effective against inflammation, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

All these uses are making carnosic acid increasingly sought-after throughout the world. However, up to now the substance has been extracted from dried rosemary and sage leaves, and the yield is low. In order to be able to use this anti-oxidation agent on an industrial scale, large quantities of the popular kitchen herbs would be needed. Scientists from the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB) have now found a solution for this problem.

Yeast cells as micro-reactors

As the team led by the plant researcher Alain Tissier from Halle reported in the journal Nature Communications, it has proved possible to manufacture the anti-oxidation agent by bio-technological means. The process involves yeasts as cell factories. However, the initial task for the researchers was to unravel the mechanism by which carnosic acid is bio-synthesized in the plant.

The last enzyme in the plant bio-synthesis process identified

During the study, the team literally discovered the last piece of a puzzle. For the bio-synthesis of carnosic acid in the plant proceeds in several reaction stages, each of which is catalysed by means of various enzymes. As the Leibniz researchers from Halle report, they have now found the enzyme, hitherto unknown, that catalyses the very last stage of the reaction chain. At the same time, they also discovered a previously unknown intermediate product as well as new enzymes. Having completed the reaction chain, the team was able to introduce the genes that code for the corresponding enzymes into yeast cells. This meant that the yeast's metabolism could be reprogrammed so that the cells started to manufacture carnosic acid. With this achievement, the plant researchers from Halle have mastered the first step towards the bio-technological production of the anti-oxidation agent carnosic acid. This technique will then be unaffected by factors such as climate change, soil quality and harvest yields.

Wie kommt der Plastikmüll in die Nordsee? Und wie kann die Vermüllung langfristig gestoppt werden? Antworten darauf sucht Meeresbiologin Rosanna Schöneich-Argent im Rahmen des Projektes "Makroplastik". Gemeinsam mit ihrem Team brachte die Doktorandin der Universität Oldenburg dafür Holztäfelchen entlang der nordeutschen Küste auf den Weg, um so die Reise des marinen Mülls verfolgen und später Vermeidungsstrategien entwickeln zu können.