3D Printed Bio-Eyes, Biobased Surfactants, Duckweed’s Comeback, Cow Poop Fabric, Starch Algae Opp, Disney Goes Bio, Alt Tuna: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of November 14th

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of November 7th.

In today’s Digest, 3D printed Bio-eyes, biobased surfactants, duckweed’s comeback, cow poop fabric, starch algae opp, Disney goes bio, alt tuna — these and more, ready for you now at The Digest online.

#4 Duckweed to become preferred biofuel, aquaculture and animal feed source

In New York, Future Market Insights said in a new report that duckweed, a species of plant with small round leaves that float on the surface of the water and often mistaken for algae, is set to grow and become a preferred feedstock for biofuel, aquaculture and animal feed due to its high growth in nutrient-rich water. Duckweed is also high in protein at around 25-45% protein content which is considered better than that from soybean meal at around 35% protein content. It can also more than double within 36 hours making it ideal for fast reproduction.

According to the report, “duckweed does not support the growth of bacteria, viruses or prions, so it provides a high degree of safety from product contamination relative to the animal based platform.

Duckweed is also edible by humans and other animal species such as chickens and pigs.”
More on the story, here.

#5 Starch breakthrough could set the stage for algae products boom

In Japan, researchers at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and Tohoku University say they have discovered a way to increase starch output in algae.

The research could make algae-based starch for biofuels and renewable materials more economically feasible.

The team, led by Sousuke Imamura at the Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, discovered a “switch” that controls algae’s starch content. The study dramatically increased starch production by de-activating TOR, a protein kinase, in unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae. After 48 hours, starch production increased ten-fold. The findings were published in a recent issue of The Plant Journal.
More on the story, here. READ MORE