(Bioenergy Insight) A biomass crop could be providing unexpected ecological benefits, according to a new study published in the European Journal of Wildlife Research. The authors of the study say that elephant grass (Miscanthus), which is commonly planted as a biomass crop,
(IOP Environmental Research Web) Oil-palm plantations in Latin America are mostly replacing cattle pasture and other previously intervened lands rather than forests, a study by scientists in Puerto Rico has found. The research – which also revealed that most exported oil
by Dyani Lewis (The Guardian) Oilier plants, new processing technologies and multipurpose crops could put the biofuel industry back in the race for greener transport fuels. -- Biofuels have long been touted as a carbon-neutral alternative to fossil fuels, doing
(Algae Industry Magazine) The Algae Technology Education Consortium (ATEC), a collaboration among the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Algae Foundation, universities, community colleges, and industry production companies across the United States, has successfully implemented the first semester of the ATEC curriculum
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (EurActiv) EU farmers are “very concerned” about the impact of the European Commission’s change of heart on biofuels, claiming the EU’s restrictive policy is putting thousands of rural jobs at risk. Yet, the EU executive defended its proposed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The production of Agrisoma’s Resonance Carinata is being expanded to multiple locations globally to provide a supply of sustainable, non-food oils for meeting the demand for sustainable biofuels. Resonance Carinata is certified sustainable by the
by Marlene Cimons (Nexus Media) Look out for souped-up algae that can be made into food, fuel and pharmaceuticals. -- ... Researchers at the University of California San Diego and Sapphire Energyhave successfully grown a genetically engineered strain of algae outdoors for
by Doug Root* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Shredders, chippers, conveying systems, balers, and pellet mills were the highlights of the International Biomass Conference and Expo held recently in Minneapolis. The big equipment is aimed at the big sources of biomass feedstocks
by Parimal M. Rohit (The Log) USC’s Wrigley Institute and Marine BioEnergy propose an experimental project to produce a biofuel alternative. -- Plans to build an experimental kelp cultivation system just off the shore of Catalina Island is slated to be
(Commercial Alternative Aviation Fuel Initiative) CAAFI’s R&D team continued the Seminars on Alternatives to Petroleum (SOAP)-Jet webinar series on March 24th. This webinar series is intended to provide a forum for members of the alternative jet fuel R&D community to
(Algae Industry Magazine) ABC News Brisbane (Australia) reports that University of Queensland researchers are growing their highest density algae at a pilot farm in Brisbane. “We’ll see how this goes in large scale, but in the moment everything looks
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) Even though algae remain an attractive target for bioenergy applications over the longer term because of their high photosynthetic efficiency, the near-term prospects for primary algae-based energy/fuels production are poor due to the relatively high cost of cultivating
by Alex Lindley (Moberly Monitor) ... “What attracted us to it was it a good crop to grow on ground that wasn’t really suitable for hay or for row crops,” said Fleming, who is one of a handful of Randolph County
(IneffableIsland.com) Waste prunings from orchards, vineyards and olive groves could be a valuable source of biomass energy and help boost rural economies, say EU-funded researchers. The key ingredient is a sustainable supply chain. As the EU seeks alternatives to fossil fuels,
(Extension.org) The Northeast region of the United States (from the Ohio River to the New England coast) has the natural, social, and technological resources needed to help create a sustainable, rural renaissance by using biomass to create biofuels, biopower, and
“Think of it as 100+ acres of energy storage and carbon sequestration,” said Kelly King, Vice President and Co-Founder of Pacific Biodiesel and recently inaugurated member of the Maui County Council. “There are 36,000 acres of fertile sugar cane lands
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There just isn’t an organization out there like Pacific Biodiesel. Labors on, fighting the good fight, hitting every sustainability grace note, and always surprising the industry with one more innovative way of doing things. And here’s
by Tom Vilsack (The Hill/U.S. Dairy Export Council) This Earth Day, hundreds of thousands of people marched to “defend the vital role science plays in our health, safety, economies, and governments.” The March for Science echoed in communities around the
(Phys.Org) ... Taking up this double-edged sword is Cynthia Bartel, a doctoral candidate at Iowa State University. She's finding a way to lessen the harm and increase the benefits of removing maize stover. "While water and wind erosion are substantial problems for
by Sean Pratt (The Western Producer) Plenty of canola from the 2016crop remains to be harvested but not much will be food worthy, says an analyst. Derek Squair, president of Agri-Trend Marketing, believes 1.3 million acres are left in fields across
by Kevin Keane (BBC Scotland) Trials have begun near Oban to create one of the UK's first seaweed farms. Harvesting of wild seaweed has been taking place for centuries but researchers say there is huge potential to create a farmed industry. Experts say
by Liora Engel-Smith (Muscatine Journal) ... The university has been burning the grass, known as Miscanthus, in its power plant to reduce its reliance on coal. At first glance, Miscanthus does not look like much. It begins as ginger-like rhizomes. As
(Farm Forum) ... Through Senior Capstone Design projects, the senior engineering students partner with innovators in the ag industry using the latest technology. The experience provides an opportunity to work on projects that will impact agriculture for future generations. The designs and
by Mia Breytenbach (Mining Weekly) Zambia’s largest integrated copper producer, Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), owned by global conglomerate Vedanta Resources, has launched the first project of its kind in Zambia to rehabilitate a mining site. The project, launched earlier this month,
by Bruce Dale (Detroit News) Regarding “Renewable Fuel Standard has failed, April 16,” Prof. Wolfram has failed to do his homework. The corn grown to make ethanol is not the same as sweet corn we eat. Field corn is used for
by P.J. Huffstutter and Michael Hirtzer (Reuters/Times of India) Wet harvest, slow grain sales encourage growth of toxins; Scope of problem in U.S. grain supply not yet known -- A fungus that causes "vomitoxin" has been found in some U.S. corn
(NexSteppe) NexSteppe, a company dedicated to pioneering the next generation of sustainable feedstock solutions for biobased industries, announced a new partnership today with Embrapa, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation. The partnership will focus on commercializing a promising high biomass sorghum
by Brian Perry (Maui News) Photogenic crop attracts more attention than area can safely handle -- “No Trespassing” signs have been posted around Pacific Biodiesel Technologies’ experimental crop of sunflowers on 14 acres near the intersection of Honoapiilani and Kuihelani
by Ron Alverson (Ethanol Producer Magazine/American Coalition for Ethanol) Life-cycle modeling for ethanol needs to be updated to reflect big improvements in corn's GHG emissions profile -- ... Fuels that help automakers achieve efficiency standards are going to be important. California and the
Laís F. Thomaz* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The GAF Talk was held last month, in Sao Paulo, to present some agriculture trends and to promote a debate on the new technologies that will surely be on the agenda of the 2018
(The Fish Site) A hi-tech piece of lab equipment that could be used for the first time to help breed disease-resistant algae for the seaweed-growing industry has been delivered to the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) this week. Representatives from
by Paul C. Samboko, Mitelo Subakanya, Cliff Dlamini (United Nations University-WIDER) The need for energy security and climate change mitigation have increased blending mandates worldwide; in Southern Africa, demand for biofuels could increase following South Africa’s planned blending mandates. However, land constraints
by Ola Wietecha (Undercurrent News) Nova Scotia-based SabrTech -- which spent years designing an easy-to-transport algae-growing system called RiverBox -- is planning to launch its product shortly, which the company says will revolutionize algae production. SabrTech spent about two years developing its RiverBox system, which
by Daryl Worthington (Biofuels International) Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denounced the European Parliament Resolution on Palm Oil and Deforestation of Rainforests, describing it as ‘discriminative’. In addition, the ministry claims the EU decision was based on “inaccurate and unaccountable
by Jim Lane (BiofuelsDigest) ... For any society, an even more perfect class of technology assets would allow us to move in either direction — perfect convertibility. When energy prices are low and supply is replete, but food prices are
by P.J. Huffstutter and Karl Plume (Reuters) ... World stockpiles of corn and wheat are at record highs. From Iowa to China, years of bumper crops and low prices have overwhelmed storage capacity for basic foodstuffs. Global stocks of corn, wheat, rice
by Sam Harrington (Yale Climate Connections) Until about 10 years ago, spring wheat was a favorite crop for farmers in North Dakota. Erickson: “Beginning in 2007, when the government heavily incentivized corn production for ethanol use, corn production really reached into North
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, state legislators are looking to ease restrictions on industrial hemp research. According to the Florida State Senate, house bill 1217 that “authorizes specified universities in state to engage in industrial hemp research projects”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... At its heart, it’s a company about transformation in basic food feedstocks. But where the technological imperative for years has been about, to use an example, more corn and cheaper corn — with the
(European Parliament/Biomass Magazine) To counter the impact of unsustainable palm oil production such as deforestation and habitat degradation, particularly in Southeast Asia, the EU should introduce a single certification scheme for palm oil entering the EU market and phase out
by Lee Imada (Maui News) Alexander & Baldwin is close to formalizing a partnership with a seed oil producing company on a 250-acre demonstration project to produce biofuels from the pongamia tree on old sugar fields with planting possibly to
by Jessie Stolark (Energy and Environmental Study Institute) Are we using the right tools to understand land use change, particularly at the local level, and how can understanding of land use change be improved? The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has been around
(GreenAir Online) Seaweed could become a promising source of biofuels for aviation if sustainably produced and economic and policy challenges can be overcome, says a report by Norwegian NGO Bellona. Seaweeds, or macroalgae, generally contain high amounts of carbohydrates (sugars)
by Ken Roseboro (Huffington Post) Food corn buyers say Syngenta’s Enogen GMO corn is contaminating non-GMO white corn fields, creating a potential “trainwreck;” may be linked to bad masa flour in California. Enogen, a genetically modified corn for ethanol production, has
by Caitlin E. Hicks Pries, C. Castanha, R. C. Porras, M. S. Torn (Science Magazine) Soils contain about twice as much carbon as Earth's atmosphere, so their response to warming is crucial to understanding carbon fluxes in a changing climate. Past studies have heated
(Ecofys) Sequential cropping can be a promising model to produce additional biomass without negative impacts on land use change or food production. In a research study for the Italian Biogas Consortium (CIB), Ecofys found that agricultural crop yields can increase
by Bob Cleaves (Biomass Power Association/Biomass Magazine) More than 100 million trees across California, many located in the federally managed Sierra, Stanislaus and Sequoia National Forests, are dead, owing to a years-long drought and a nasty bark beetle infestation. As many
by William Strauss (FutureMetrics/Biomass Magazine) ... The recently released paper by the Chatham House is a study that contains many inaccurate statements about the use of wood for energy. Those statements are presented as facts, or as uncontested conclusions. This article
by Lee Imada (Maui News) A general map showing possible uses of now fallow sugar fields — including areas for possible biodiesel-producing tree orchards, coffee and cacao crops and livestock-irrigated pastures — was projected on a screen as the former
(Advanced Biofuel Center/AltEnergyMag.com) ... The Advanced Biofuel Center (ABC) recently announced progress on its work with its mission "more Biodiesel oil per hectare" by developing two or more dedicated Biodiesel Crops in same acreage and that without extra inputs. According to
by Len Calderone (AltEnergyMag.com) Sewage-to-energy would cut costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Industry calculations show that if all biosolids in the United States were converted into biomass energy, they would yield 7 million to 7.6 million megawatts of energy,
(Ehihad Airways) Peter Baumgartner, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, and Mohammad Al Bulooki, Executive Vice President Commercial, joined Scott Fancher, Boeing Senior Vice President, at the integrated seawater and agriculture system facility within Masdar City to check on the
edited by John Love and John A. Bryant (Wiley-Blackwell) With increased public and scientific attention driven by factors such as oil price spikes, the need for increased energy security, and concerns over greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, the production
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In India, the Indian Oil Company is seeking 50 acres from the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation to build its planned second-generation ethanol plant near to its oil refinery currently located in Panipat.
by Chris Clayton (DTN The Progressive Farmer) Leaders Tout Potential Growth, Challenges for Renewable Refinery Products -- ... Whether it is spoons, Coke bottles or carpets made out of corn, livestock enzymes for pharmaceuticals, or John Deere tractors using soy oil
by Ashwin Raman (Duluth News Tribune/Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) I believe the March 21 story, “Habitat loss highest near ethanol plants,” did a disservice to readers because it cited a study that contains dubious and inaccurate conclusions. The study focuses on the period
by Patrick Cavanaugh (California Ag Today) A new biomass process will convert woody ag waste, including almond hulls and shells, into ethanol, which has a demand and makes the conversion possible. Eric McAfee is Chairman, CEO and co-founder of Aemetis Inc., a
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) This IEA Bioenergy report provides an international update on the status and prospects for using microalgae and macroalgae as feedstocks for producing biofuels and bioenergy products. The report’s scope covers algae-based options for producing liquid and gaseous biofuels,
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) This IEA Bioenergy Task 39 report looks at the potential of biofuels in China. Although climate change and energy security are of concern to China, it is not clear which of these drivers has been the primary motivator for
by Emmanuel Desplechin (Politico/ePURE) The European Commission wants to phase out the use of crop-based biofuels in Europe, even though biofuels like renewable ethanol are currently the main driver of EU transport decarbonization. They also deliver significant greenhouse gas savings
(Wallaces Farmer) Every farmer should plant with B20 biodiesel this spring, says Iowa co-op. -- A demonstration by an Iowa farm cooperative aims to persuade more farmers in the state to use biodiesel. United Farmers Cooperative, based at Afton in
(Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture) Projects Mark Return of Hemp to PA following Gov. Wolf’s Signing of Act 92 -- After decades of being gone from the landscape of Pennsylvania, a promising and versatile crop with enormous market potential will soon
(Algae Industry Magazine) When it comes to cutting emissions from transport, shipping and aviation are often considered the elephant in the room: having been excluded from the Paris agreement and being inadequately addressed under existing UN conventions and EU legislation.
by Jordan Lubetkin (National Wildlife Federation) Millions of acres of wildlife habitat are being lost to crop production, according to a new peer-reviewed study published today in the journal Environmental Research Letters, which found a strong link between the location
by Liz Gyekye (Bioenergy Insight) More than 125 academics have joined the International Energy Agency Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme (IEA Bioenergy) slamming Chatham House’s recent report on bioenergy, calling it ‘misleading. The group of academics from across the world and the IEA
David C. Walmsley Rob Bailis, and Alexandra-Maria Klein (Environmental Science & Technology) Despite setbacks, interest in Jatropha cultivation remains high. This study addressed the question to what extent Jatropha cultivation has replaced specific vegetation and land use types and how
by Gretchen Miller (Biofuels Digest) ... Meghan Pawlowksi, a graduate student at the University of Hawaii Manoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture, crawled around her field site on the last sugarcane plantation in Hawaii, Maui’s Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, or HC&S,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There’s a biorefinery initiative in Canada’s Atlantic region (first initiated in Nova Scotia but expanding regionally). A partnership between Emera, Innovacorp, and the Federal and Provincial governments, are aimed at creating the necessary conditions to attract and host a
(Algae Industry Magazine) For algal biofuels to compete with petroleum, farming algae has to become less expensive. Toward that goal, Sandia National Laboratories is testing strains of algae for resistance to a host of predators and diseases, and learning to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... For now, let’s visit briefly the story of epigenetics. If you are concerned that a) the world doesn’t want genetic modification and b) the world needs crops with more stress tolerance and yield if
by Amy Mayer (Iowa Public Radio) The agriculture sector needs to ramp up its response to climate change, especially in the Midwest, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. ... Lead author Xin-Zhong Liang, a
(The Crop Science Society of America/Biodiesel Magazine) ... In California, growers usually choose warm-season crops: ones that grow from March to October. But extension agronomist Stephen Kaffka and his team at UC Davis, including project scientist Nic George, explored growing
by Marika Andersen (Bellona) Today, Bellona publishes its new report on the potential and challenges of using seaweed biofuels in aviation. The report provides comprehensive recommendations for researchers, public authorities and consumers. By mapping existing knowledge and practice, sustainability and
(The Sun) From Uche Usim, Abuja -- When the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, assumed office in 2015, one of the programmes he highlighted the Muhammadu Buhari administration would face headlong was biofuels production which he described
(FutureMetrics) Providing misleading, inaccurate, and sometime outright fiction as facts could be called propaganda. With overtones of Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, the term "alternative facts" has recently been coined. Either way, it is information that is biased and misleading that is
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... While there were big questions, there were big answers, beginning with a panel on The Sustainable Agriculture Imperative. John Pieper from Dupont Industrial Biosciences shared their latest work with cellulosic ethanol in the corn
by Kristen Johnson (U.S. Department of Energy) ... Growing deep-rooted perennial crops, like switchgrass or willow, together with annual crops and livestock in a farming system is starting to gain traction. This is due in large part to the potential economic and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The production of Agrisoma’s Resonance Carinata is being expanded to multiple locations globally to provide a supply of sustainable, non-food oils for meeting the demand for sustainable biofuels. Resonance Carinata is certified sustainable by the
by Lauren Novak (The Advertiser/News.com.au) Growing and manufacturing hemp for industrial purposes, such as cosmetics, clothing or construction materials, will be allowed in South Australia now the State Government has thrown its support behind a Greens proposal. The change will bring
(SciDev.Net) Research team produces aviation fuel from jatropha plants grown in desert with sewage water; Aim is to cut aviation emissions, but high cost remains a challenge for use by the end of 2017; Semi-industrial experiments kicked off to develop a production method
by Jeff Mulhollem (Penn State News) Africa and agroforestry — defined as agriculture that incorporates the cultivation and conservation of trees — are in Penn State professor Michael Jacobson's blood, and the combination has helped shape his career. In turn, the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, farmers from the Midwest are in California’s Central Valley touring the first-of-its-kind Zero Net Energy Farm, or “ZNEF,” to learn how to generate all electrical and heating power needs from on-site renewable resources,
by Emily Witty (MD Biz News) ... (Ryan) Powell and his business partner Onur Unal are the founders of Manta Biofuel, a Baltimore-based biotechnology firm producing renewable crude oil through the harvesting and processing of algae. Just two and a half
(NewBIO) Something new happened in the bioenergy willow world this week in Pennsylvania. A new type of willow energy crop harvester got its first run on a willow crop in Pennsylvania. The machine, a 2 row harvester, was acquired as part
(Phys.Org) A new study published last week in the journal Environmental Research Letters by researchers at the University of Puerto Rico offers the first regional look at lands being converted to palm oil plantations in Latin America. Palm oil is
(RightsAndResources.org) Experts at Dakar event point to a significant cause of investment losses, work stoppages and violence across Africa: the failure of governments and companies to respect the land rights of indigenous and local communities Sixty-three percent of disputes related to
(International Energy Agency) Bioenergy is the largest source of renewable energy today, providing heat and electricity, as well as transport fuels. Yet, more so than for other low‑carbon energy technologies, the complex and multi‑faceted supply chains of bioenergy projects call
(PHYCO2/Biodiesel Magazine) PHYCO2 LLC, an emerging algae production, waste water treatment and carbon dioxide sequestration company, announced the successful treatment of wastewater from breweries to comply with state water discharge limits for nitrates and phosphates. During Phase 4 of the multiyear trial
(North Dakota State University) Wet distillers grains and condensed distillers solubles increased corn and spring wheat yields. -- Distillers grains could be a source of fertilizer for some crops, according to research at North Dakota State University’s Carrington Research Extension
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BPA designs, builds, and operates commercial scale Grower Harvester bioreactors that enable efficient conversion of light and CO2 into high value microbial feedstock. BioProcess Algae LLC is based in Omaha, Neb. and is currently running
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) The food and livestock industries have railed against biofuels for years, based on the argument that corn ethanol and soy biodiesel raise food prices. More recently, some have suggested that soy biodiesel emits more greenhouse
(Manila Bulletin) With farmers looking to maximize profits for their harvest of sugarcane farming communities in Batangas came out in droves to attend the Farmers Festival for Bioethanol held in Sta. Teresita this province. The sugarcane industry, one of the biggest
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A group of researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have completed a survey of the economic activities and rural jobs that a corn stover bioeconomy can offer, which is currently featured on the cover of the latest
(Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) Climate Researchers Study Impacts of Land-use Change on Carbon Dioxide - Reforestation Is Important to Climate Protection and Species Diversity – Study in Nature Geoscience -- CO2 emissions caused by changes of land use may possibly
(Donald Danforth Plant Science Center) The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, one of the world’s largest independent plant science institutes, today announced a three-year $6.1 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to expand and accelerate the development
by Jussi Rosendahl (Reuters) Finnish pulp and paper maker UPM-Kymmene is planning its next step in wood-based renewable fuel products after a successful ramp-up at its initial biofuels plant, the head of UPM's biofuels business said on Wednesday. UPM says the plant
by Matt Wheeler (Phys.Org) ... Bendy Estime, a biomedical and chemical engineering Ph.D. candidate, has devoted his research to this area, and developed a new technology for energy efficient cultivation and harvesting of microalgae. ... "The study is an attempt to address three 'bottlenecks'
by Emmy Koeleman (All about Feed) Wageningen University & Research (UR) in the Netherlands is building a small-scale algae pilot on the isle of Bonaire. The Dutch University is partnering with the Council of International Education and Exchange to build this
(U.S. Department of Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The 2016 Billion-Ton Report (BT16), Volume 2: Environmental Sustainability Effects of Select Scenarios from Volume 1, jointly released by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is a pioneering
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Ghana, the country’s only ethanol producer—Caltech—has produced 150,000 liters of ethanol from cassava since starting up the 3 million liter per year facility in August. The company is also expanding into biogas, liquefied carbon dioxide
by Jeff Kulikowsky (MyTwinTiers.com) Morrisville partners with JD Farms in Eaton on industrial hemp pilot program -- Hemp may not be what you'd think of as the next big cash crop but plenty in New York, including Governor Andrew Cuomo, think
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cellana uses the most productive plants on earth—marine microalgae—to photosynthetically produce its ReNew line of Omega-3 EPA and DHA oils, animal feed, and biofuel feedstocks. Cellana’s patented ALDUO system, a series of photobioreactors coupled with
by Frances White (Renewable Energy World/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) A dozen glass cylinders containing a potential payload of bright green algae are exposed to hundreds of multi-colored lights, which provide all of sunlight's natural hues. The tiny LEDs brighten and
(PR Web/American Process/MYBiomass) American Process Inc. (API) and MYBiomass Sdn. Bhd. (MYBiomass) will work together to develop technology to produce nanocellulose and cellulosic sugars from oil palm empty fruit-bunches, a lignocellulosic feedstock widely available in Malaysia. -- API and MYBiomass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Outgoing Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack put it best: “The bioeconomy is a catalyst for economic development in rural America, creating new jobs and providing new markets for farmers and ranchers. Investing in the businesses and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We reported this week that an explosive new peer-reviewed report from ICF found that greenhouse gas emissions reductions from typical corn-based ethanol production have soared to 43 percent compared to 2005-era gasoline. The report projects that
by Matthew Appleby (Horticulture Week) The active ingredient in herbicide Roundup has been cited as a cause of liver disease after experiments on rats, but Monsanto has refuted the claims as "bad science". -- The study, published in Nature Scientific reports,
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) Analysis finds that U.S. corn-based ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent compared to gasoline, with additional benefits projected through 2022 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the release of a report studying the
(Science News/University of Michigan) When growing algae in outdoor ponds as a next-generation biofuel, a naturally diverse mix of species will help reduce the chance of crop failure, according to a new study. -- ... Algae-derived biocrude oil is being
(Environmental Research Web) Cultivating algae for food and biofuel could make a serious dent in our greenhouse gas emissions, as well as helping to save freshwater resources and reduce deforestation. Currently the emissions associated with land-use change and agriculture account for
by Jan Rocha (Climate News Network) A sharp increase in the predicted global number of EVs prompts Brazil to rev up its promotion of low-carbon biofuels. -- By 2040, the number of electric cars in the world could have reached
(EurekAlert!/PLOS) Two potential biofuel crops in Hawaii--sugarcane and napiergrass--may sequester more carbon in soil than is lost to the atmosphere, according to a study published January 4, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Meghan Pawlowski from University of
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The USDA Commodity Credit Corp. has announced funding is available to pay a biofuel production incentive (BPI) under the Farm-to-Fleet program to companies producing drop-in biofuels from certain feedstocks. A notice published in the Federal Register explains
by Robin Booker (The Western Producer) There are many innovative products and services available to Canadian crop producers that could help improve sustainability. However, the global food sector is struggling to find ways to reward growers who adapt sustainable technologies and
(Algae Industry Magazine) Marine algae have the power to simultaneously fuel vehicles, recycle carbon dioxide, and provide nutrition to animals and humans,” said Ira A. Levine, a tenured Professor of Natural and Applied Sciences at the University of Southern Maine
by Kieron Monks (CNN) Croton nut may be ideal fuel with high oil and protein concentration; Leading producers are expanding rapidly; Analysts say croton avoid ethical issues of other biofuels -- The Croton megalocarpus tree is common throughout much of East and Central
by Chip Bowling (U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance/Washington Post) I consider myself an environmentalist, a conservationist and a farmer. This is an identity I share with many farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which spans more than 64,000 square miles
(Oregon State University) The use of residual forest biomass for rural development faces significant economic hurdles that make it unlikely to be a source of jobs in the near future, according to an analysis by economists at Oregon State University. In
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Regional Feedstock Partnership (the Partnership)—a multi-institutional collaboration of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, representatives from land-grant universities, and industry—was first established to address issues associated with the development of
by Meghan Gordon (Platts) A US appeals court Tuesday dismissed a challenge by American biodiesel producers to the Environmental Protection Agency's decision allowing Argentinian biodiesel to qualify for US renewable fuel credits. The National Biodiesel Board trade group had argued that EPA
(The New Indian Express) There is a need to increase the minimum support price (MSP) of crops and bringing down the farming input cost, said Union Petroleum Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan. ... “For development, long term planning is required and the
by David DeGennaro (National Wildlife Federation) Since Congress passed into law in 2005 a federal mandate to blend corn-based ethanol and other renewable fuels into conventional gasoline, the increased demand for corn – which has supplied nearly all of these mandated
by Phusadee Arunmas (Bangkok Post) Ethanol makers have agreed to buy 10,000 tonnes of cassava root a day from farmers at 1.9 baht a kilogramme in a bid to raise farm income and stabilise fresh cassava prices. ... Massive supply of fresh cassava
(NexSteppe) NexSteppe, a company dedicated to pioneering the next generation of sustainable feedstock solutions for biobased industries, announced today that the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has approved four NexSteppe sorghum hybrids for commercial sale in country.
(Turf Feeding Systems/PR Web) Turf Feeding Systems, a Houston company, is starting a new project and is contracted to design, build and manage the agriculture for a special BioJet fuel project in the Yucatan region of Mexico that is focused
(University of Missouri) Switchgrass Can Improve Soil Quality on Eroded Farms, Study Finds -- The loss of fertile topsoil from agricultural fields is an economic problem for modern farmers. When runoff water washes topsoil from agricultural fields in areas with
(Everglades Foundation) The Everglades Foundation (The Foundation) today officially kicked off its four-year, $10-million George Barley Water Prize at the “Tapping Innovation: Breakthrough Thinking, Action & Awards” event at the Miami Science Barge, unveiling the winners of the first two
(UFOP) “The 7% cap for biofuels made from cultivated biomass, first established in 2015, must be maintained beyond 2020.” With this position, the Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP) rejects the proposal made today by the
(Algae Industry Magazine) The University of Queensland operates an Algae Energy Farm to cultivate and harvest microalgae for a range of uses, including as a feed supplement for beef cattle. Lead researcher Professor Peer Schenk said the farm shows that
(Punch) Nigeria needs 2.4 million litres of biodiesel daily to successfully implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Jatropha Growers, Processors and Exporters Association of Nigeria has said. The National President of JaGPEAN, retired Maj. Gen. J. Omosebi, stated this
by Lenay Ruhl (Central Penn Business Journal) ... State regulators announced last week an industrial hemp program that will allow for cultivating and researching hemp in efforts overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Applications to grow hemp in 2017 are
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Founded by Dr. David Soane, a renowned serial entrepreneur and inventor in the field of materials science and surface chemistry, Crop Enhancement is developing formulations that employ advanced and environmentally friendly chemistry to eliminate or minimize
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Proof positive on the “best is yet to come” — check out the Danforth Plant Science Center. It’s tucked away in the major agri-complex that built up around Monsanto and others in the St. Louis
(Algae Industry Magazine) Angelo Paggi Matos, a doctoral student from Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), in Brasília, Brazil, has been awarded an honorable mention by MERCOSUL Science and Technology Awards — Category: Young Scientist, with a work entitled: Biochemical
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... So, what do you do about the Frost Wall. Generally, you can grow more with the first harvest — that’s yield improvement. Or, you can grow more in the extreme north — that’s crop expansion.
by Chelsea Harvey (The Washington Post) The Great Plains lost more grassland to agriculture in 2014 than the Brazilian Amazon lost to deforestation, says a recent report from the World Wildlife Fund. And it argues that the continued expansion of cropland
by Jeff Rice (Journal-Advocate) Making ethanol doesn't rob the hungry of needed nutrition ... Ethanol has long been recognized as an additive to increase octane and help internal combustion engines burn cleaner. Until 2005, the chief oxygenation additive was primarily methyl
by Theophilus Kumah* (Advanced Biofuels USA) With the issue of biofuels and renewable energy making waves all over the globe, it is therefore not surprising when Africa (particularly Ghana) is not left out on investing in the future of energy.
(USDA/Biomass Magazine) The USDA recently announced that the U.S. Forest Service has identified an additional 36 million dead trees across California since its last aerial survey in May 2016. This brings the total number of dead trees since 2010 to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Since 2013, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has had an Algae Biomass project underway, under the direction of Dr. Phil Pienkos, aimed at “reducing algal biofuel production cost by developing advanced process options for the
by Mahmood Ebadian (Biofuels Digest/Biomass Supply Chain Consulting Ltd.) The procurement of low-cost feedstock has been the focus of the pioneering bio-conversion technology developers in commercializing their first industrial-scale projects. Low-cost feedstock is critical in such projects as most of the
(Algae Industry Magazine) A group of educators and researchers from Cornell University, the Cornell Algal Biofuel Consortium (CABC), has published a comparative commentary in the December, 2016 issue of Oceanography, the quarterly journal of The Oceanography Society. The commentary sums up a
by Leticia Phillips (Ethanol Producer Magazine/UNICA) UNICA spokesperson describes Brazil's climate change strategy and its reliance on biofuels -- ... Brazil’s INDC targets 37 percent lower emissions by 2025 compared to 2005, with further reductions by 2030. This assumes biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Ontario, the Bio-Industrial Process Research Centre at Lambton College and Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park – collaboration with the OSGA and its partners – completed a techno-economic modelling feasibility study. The study identified suitable high
(The National Research Council of Canada/Biodiesel Magazine)... Canada’s first algal biorefinery demonstration project, a collaborative research effort between the National Research Council of Canada’s Algal Carbon Conversion program, Pond Technologies and Votorantim Cimentos’ St Marys Cement, is revolutionizing how industrial carbon
(Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest) This talk introduces a web-based decision support tool for biorefinery siting and explores the economic viability of potential biorefinery locations in Chehalis, WA, Dallas, OR, and Hayden,ID. WATCH VIDEO
(Univeristy of Botswana) The University of Botswana took its research programme to loftier heights when it launched an experimental vehicle that uses biodiesel fuel on November 14, 2016. The vehicle uses blended fuel (B10) which is 90 per cent petroleum
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In May, Benson Hill Biosystems launched CropOS, a cognitive engine using cloud biology to empower a new era of plant genomics innovation. CropOS uses powerful data analytics and biological knowledge to identify the most promising plant genetics
(The Hindu) Union Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday announced a new plant to produce ethanol to be set up in Bathinda with an outlay of Rs 500 crore. ... Mr Pradhan, while addressing gathering in Ludhiana, said this plant will convert
by Rick Uldricks and Hudson Councilman Casey Weinstein (Twinsburg Patch) In truth, when it comes to energy security, there is good news to be found, but not at the bottom of a well. -- Fossil fuel boosters love to say that energy
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