(University of Nevada, Reno/EurekAlert!) ... Biochemist and molecular biologist John Cushman at the University of Nevada, Reno will create a gene atlas for the common ice plant that will help find ways to allow bioenergy feedstocks to better tolerate salinity
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
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Tennessee, officials at Oak Ridge released a report on an ongoing debate about costs and benefits of wood-pellet based bioenergy production in the southeastern United States (SE US) requires an understanding of the science
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
by Abdul-Sattar Nizami (King Abdulaziz University, Center of Excellence in Environmental Studies (CEES)) (RenewableEnergyFocus.com) The conservation of biomass is essential for ensuring a continuous and quality supply of feedstock for biofuel facilities around the year. However, the conservation of biomass
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
(Algae Industry Magazine) Many microalgae strains have received attention in biomass production due to their high biomass productivity per unit time and per unit area. Algae produce oil as well as carbohydrates, occurring mainly in the form of starch. Oil
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Canada, the long-awaited MSW-to-biofuel plant in Surrey is preparing for commissioning in June, making it North America’s first plant of such kind. Waste collection trucks and other city vehicles will be fueled with the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, news arrived from MetGen that they have developed a novel chemo-enzymatic process that leads to oxidized forms of 5-HMF. They report that “this form of sugar is known to have above 90% conversion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Europe is often thought of as a dead-end for biofuels, owing to a thorny debate over fuel mandates, and agricultural protection. But it’s a reputation entirely undeserved; some of the most fascinating projects are there. In
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
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
(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/Laboratory Equipment) A multi-institutional team led by the University of Illinois have proven sugarcane can be genetically engineered to produce oil in its leaves and stems for biodiesel production. Surprisingly, the modified sugarcane plants also produced
(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
(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
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
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) published a report titled Alternative Aviation Fuels: Overview of Challenges, Opportunities, and Next Steps. This new report provides an overview of the current state of alternative aviation fuels,
(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,
(Edie.net) SEAT originally partnered with Spanish firm Aqualia to launch the SMART Green Gas project, aimed at creating 100% renewable biofuels to be used in compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. The partnership sees wastewater turned into biomethane at Spanish treatment plants
by Sarah Karacs (CNN Tech) A tiny organism thinner than a strand of hair could help fuel airplanes in the future. Japanese firm Euglena has been cultivating a type of algae for use in food and cosmetics. But it sees
(Washington State University/Biomass Magazine) Researchers at Washington State University Tri-Cities and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have found a new way to define the molecular structure of cellulose, which could lead to cheaper and more efficient ways to make a variety of
(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
(University of Copenhagen) University of Copenhagen and the global player Bayer CropScience have successfully developed a new oilseed crop that is much more resistant to heat, drought and diseases than oilseed rape. The breakthrough is so big that it will
(Brookhaven National Laboratory/Lab Manager) Findings point to new biochemical strategies for increasing oil yield from crops grown to produce biofuels and biomaterials -- ... By exploring the details of this delicate energy balance, a group of scientists from the U.S.
(Biofuels Journal) Researchers at John Hopkins University, USA, have created artificial lichens using bacteria and yeast that are capable of producing materials for biofuels directly from sunlight and CO2. The research is published in the open access journal Biotechnology for Biofuels
(Government of Canada/CNW) Investments support Canadian-based technologies and create opportunities for businesses to grow and contribute to clean economic growth. -- Technology and the innovation it helps promote are key to the future of Canada's economy. This is why the
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,
(NexSteppe) NexSteppe Inc., a company dedicated to pioneering the next generation of sustainable feedstock solutions for biobased industries, announced today that the European Union has fully approved two NexSteppe Sorghum hybrids for commercial sale in the region. One of the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In uniquely combining the whisky by-products, Celtic Renewables Ltd adapt the traditional Weizmann Fermentation process (also known as ABE fermentation) to a brand new and entirely sustainable novel substrate – not only providing a sustainable
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Biofuels Digest's Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference started with an afternoon ABLC Feedstock Summit at the US Department of Agriculture. Three points jumped out. The value of the farmers/growers perspective of biofuels; rethinking the value
(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
(Tokyo Institute of Technology/EurekAlert!) The perimeter of lipid droplet in their cells is an important place for oil synthesis -- Photosynthetic organisms such as plants and green algae can transform atmospheric carbon dioxide into carbon storage molecules, especially oils such as
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
(Algae Industry Magazine) On May 9 Yumiko Sakuragi from the Copenhagen Plant Science Centre will participate in the Danish IP fair in Industriens Hus, Copenhagen. Dr. Sakuragi will present her invention on how smart microalgae can enhance bioethanol production from
(Embrapa (Google translation)) Embrapa Agroenergia (DF) was able to identify species of microalgae that can be cultivated in liquid waste from agroindustrial processes, effluents. This crop can generate renewable raw material for biofuels, feed, cosmetics and various other products. The research,
by Sharita L Forrest (Phys.Org) A semiautonomous robot may soon be roaming agricultural fields gathering and transmitting real-time data about the growth and development of crops, information that crop breeders—and eventually farmers—can use to identify the genetic traits in plants likely to
(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
(Bioenergy Insight) US-based science and engineering centre Argonne National Laboratory has developed technology that synergistically uses two waste biomass streams to generate two bioproducts and enhance the process of anaerobic digestion (AD). According to the organisation, the digestion of wastewater can
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
by Silke Schmidt (Phys.Org) ... Genetically modifying switchgrass could boost crop yields and its commercial viability. But to close in on realizing that potential requires one small tweak: a genetic sterility switch that prevents the modified grass from contaminating the genes of nearby
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
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Biorefinery Optimization Workshop Summary Report is now online! Read this new report for an overview of industry challenges and opportunities discussed during the Biorefinery Optimization Workshop, which was held on October 5–6, 2016, in Chicago, Illinois. The
(Neutral Fuels) Recycling waste dairy products to help meet Dubai ' s Zero Waste target -- After two years of research into new and improved ways to create biofuels, Neutral Fuels has become the first company to successfully use butter, cream
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
(Scrivener Publishing) The most comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of all the possible aspects for biofeedstock processing and the production of energy from biofeedstocks. Audience Chemical engineers, petroleum engineers, process engineers, students in chemical engineering, biotechnology, petroleum engineering, agricultural biotechnology, applied microbiology, environmental
(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
(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
(Associated Press/SFGate) Scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Marine Sciences Laboratory are turning algae inside out to find the best biofuel possible. Dr. Michael Huesemann, a lead researcher, said algae is a promising clean energy but expensive to harness effectively. "The
(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 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
(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 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 Ivy Ashe (Hawaii Tribune Herald) ... The latest stop along that path comes from researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, who are investigating potential dual contributions of crops used to
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), is announcing its
(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
(Montana State University/Biomass Magazine) A Montana State University scientist has received a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science to research ways to improve the usefulness of camelina, an ancient crop that the modern world
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Biomass Magazine) Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have released the largest-ever single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) dataset of genetic variations in poplar trees, information useful to plant scientists as well as researchers in
(Algae Industry Magazine) Synthetic Genomics and ExxonMobil have announced that they have extended their agreement to conduct joint research into advanced algae biofuels, after making significant progress in understanding algae genetics, growth characteristics and increasing oil production. The two companies have
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 Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) A USDA report this week showing corn ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 43% compared to gasoline, came with a silver lining for a Washington, D.C., group that has been pressing the U.S. Environmental
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
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Highlighting Advanced Biofuels USA's work on a feasibility study of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore energy beet project proved to attract many visitors and a bit of buzz at the Keystone Farm Show,
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today (January 10, 2017) the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announced the publication of a report, titled Biofuels and Bioproducts from Wet and Gaseous Waste Streams: Challenges and Opportunities. The report is the
(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 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,
(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
(National Algae Association) 2016 Algae Year in Review – Nothing has Changed -- 2016 (U.S. Department of Energy) Funding Opportunities: ... • Global Algae Innovations (San Diego, California)— ... • Algenol Biotech LLC (Ft. Myers, Florida)-- ... • MicroBio Engineering, Inc. (San Luis Obispo,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Massachusetts we have had more signs of the pivoting underway in the advanced bioeconomy with the news that Metabolix is changing its name to Yield10 Bioscience and will focus on developing disruptive technologies for
(Committee on Genetically Engineered Crops: Past Experience and Future Prospects; Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources; Division on Earth and Life Studies; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine) ... We received impassioned requests to give the public a simple, general, authoritative answer about
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Energy Department (DOE) and the Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) jointly announced $22.7 million today to support the optimization of integrated biorefineries (IBR). DOE is providing majority funding with up
by Bevin Fletcher (Bioscience Technology) Some semi-arid plants use a specific type of photosynthesis known as crassulacean acid metabolism, or CAM, to conserve water and flourish in semi-arid climates. Now scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory
(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 Grace Schneider (Courier-Journal) After a recent boost in funding, the Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research at the University of Louisville is delving into the science and economics of commercializing industrial hemp. It’s a new line of work for the center, located
(Millenni um Campus (Google Translation)) ...In the Rectors' Hall of the Central Building, the university leader recognized Ignacio Contreras Andrade, a researcher at the Faculty of Biological Chemistry Sciences, for having obtained the first place in the silver category of
by Chen, Xiaowen; Kuhn, Erik; Jennings, Edward W.; Nelson, Robert; Tao, Ling; Zhang, Min; Tucker, Melvin P. (Energy & Environmental Science) Distilling and purifying ethanol and other products from second generation lignocellulosic biorefineries adds significant capital and operating costs to biofuel
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 Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) LanzaTech’s gas fermentation platform disrupts the current highly centralized global energy system by enabling the regional production of low-cost energy from local wastes and residues, including gases as varied as industrial flue gas, gasified biomass
(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 Brian Warshay, J. Jed Brown, Sgouris Sgouridis (The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment) Prospective evaluation of the lifecycle impacts of aviation biofuel production in Abu Dhabi, UAE based on a production system that integrates aquaculture, saltwater agriculture, and mangrove silviculture, termed an
by Enrico Belga Jr. (Rappler) Dubbed as 'Bio-Gab,' the group’s biofuel invention converts wild taro, which is hazardous to humans and animals, into a bioethanol that can fuel cars -- ... This need also motivated a group of college students from St
(Michigan State University) Michigan State University scientists have engineered “molecular Velcro” into cyanobacteria, boosting this microalgae’s biofuel viability as well as its potential for other research. The findings, featured in the current issue of ACS Synthetic Biology, show how MSU researchers
(Phys.Org/ DOE/Joint Genome Institute) ... To learn more about how bacteria interact with fungi in a symbiotic relationship to support the biochemistries that could contribute to the development of alternate fuel sources, Cornell and DOE JGI researchers used a model bacterial-fungal
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 Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Maryland, the state’s Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) announced today that 19 companies have received over $1.9 million in funding from the organization’s Seed Investment Fund in the last six months. The funding will be
by Tegan Annett (Northern Star) What was once a paw paw farm in Yarwun is now a multi-million dollar laboratory that is leading the way for renewable fuel creation. Yesterday Northern Oil's biocrude and biofuel laboratory was officially opened, marking the
(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
by Stafford “Doc” Williamson (DaoChi Energy/Biofuels Digest) Reported in the Feednavigator.com (Dec. 8, 2016) is news that soymeal has taken a step toward replacing fishmeal as aquaculture feed. The Battelle company, at the behest of the Ohio Soybean Council, has developed a non-fermentation method that
(Dow AgroSciences/Business Wire) Dow AgroSciences, Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University and Agriculture Victoria Working Together on Essential African Root Crop -- More productive cassava plants, a root crop that is foundational for food security in Africa, will be made possible by
(American Science and Technology/Ethanol Producer Magazine) American Science and Technology, a sustainable technology company, has teamed up with Terma Group, a team of Waste and Environmental Technology researchers at the University of Malaga in Spain, to continue efforts on the
(Science Daily) Researchers in Australia have made an important discovery about how sand 'holds its breath' -- specifically, how diatoms survive in the ever-changing environmental conditions of a beach. The finding has major implications for the biofuels industry. -- ... The
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
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.
(Bentley University/PR Newswire) Bentley University research fellow Michael J. Walsh leads study finding algae food to have potential to mitigate climate change -- Scientists affiliated with the Marine Algal Industrialization Consortium have published a research article demonstrating the potential of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For some time in The Digest, we have examined the problem of matching capital to projects. As Ecostrat’s Jordan Solomon observed at ABLC Next a few weeks back, “the vast majority of projects are given
by Mark Elless (U.S. Department of Energy) Switchgrass, algae, forest trimmings, corn husks and corn stalks you can't eat these crops, and you would never put them on your table for Thanksgiving; however, together they make up a bountiful harvest
(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
(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 Joan Koka (Argonne National Laboratory) ... The new analysis, published in The Royal Chemistry Society's Energy & Environmental Science, incorporates the additional effect of changes in reflectivity, or “albedo.” Albedo effects sum up the amount of incoming solar energy that
(Iresiduo (Google Translation)) Specialists of the Center for Research Science and Higher Education of Ensenada ( CICESE) develop a prototype version biodiesel plant that will produce from microalgae and work with solar energy. Pilar Sánchez Saavedra, Department of Aquaculture, and Daniel Carvajal
(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 Missouri, Benson Hill Biosystems, an agricultural technology company unlocking the genetic potential of plants, today announced a strategic partnership and grant from the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). Benson Hill’s CropOS platform empowers organizations of
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
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) "I want to make this land productive again," was a common refrain at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's 13th Annual Small Farm Conference November 11-12. Whether returning to a disused family farm or
by Anthony King (Horizon Magazine) Hacking trees by adding bacteria to their roots could help scrub contaminated soil clean of chemicals and metals from industrial spillages and fallouts, a process known as gentle remediation. Once the approach is refined, it could
(Algae Industry Magazine) Halifax, Nova Scotia’s clean-tech company SabrTech describes its main product, The RiverBox™, as “the world’s first modular, scalable and rapidly deployable biofilm platform for the production of algal biomass,” writes Peter Moreira, in thechronicleherald.ca. The system of growing
(Goethe University Frankfurt/EurekAlert!) Goethe University Frankfurt coordinates European two million Euro project -- Microbes are already used on a wide scale for the production of fuels and base chemicals, but for this most of them have to be "fed"
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Fulcrum BioEnergy has developed a “game-changing process for converting municipal solid waste that would otherwise be landfilled, into renewable transportation fuels including syncrude, jet fuel and diesel”. The company has successfully proven and demonstrated this
by Alison Goss Eng (U.S. Department of Energy/Renewable Energy World) The beautiful island of Kauai, Hawaii, is known for its pristine beaches and dramatic mountain ranges. But Kauai is not just a vacation spot; it is also the location of
(Advanced Biofuel Center/PR Underground) Groundbreaking research at the ABC has shown that Moringa Oleifera plants can produce Biofuel more efficiently than other well-known feedstocks. -- Advanced Biofuel Center (ABC) breakthroughs in Moringa oil Plantation, a new Moringa tree varietal, and
(Bio-based News) Microalgae are a highly productive, sustainable source of raw materials for both food and non-food products. Despite this potential the implementation of algae as a production platform is still limited because of the need to reduce production costs
(U.S. Department of Energy) The results of the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office's (BETO's) Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities Request for Information (RFI) are now available on the RFI responses web page. This new web page is a
(CNW/Newswire) The Government of Canada is supporting clean energy research, development and technology demonstration at all stages of the innovation spectrum, from high-risk, early stage research that can deliver transformative energy solutions, to later stage technology demonstrations to help speed
(Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Technology converts human waste into bio-based fuel -- It may sound like science fiction, but wastewater treatment plants across the United States may one day turn ordinary sewage into biocrude oil, thanks to new research at
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) On October 23-26 the algae industry gathered in Phoenix, AZ for the Algae Biomass Summit , its annual get together. Gone are the glory days of algae biofuels capturing headlines and promising to save the world
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Of all the many wonders at the Algae Biomass Summit this week, perhaps there was nothing more interesting in terms of the Department of Energy’s laudable attention to the sector than a poster from NREL on
by Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat ( Bangkok Post) A Thai research team has successfully produced ethanol from water hyacinth. Now it needs to find the technology to turn the result into a viable business -- A Thai researcher has succeeded in producing
(Green Car Congress) A new analysis from Argonne National Laboratory, funded by the US Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), shows the potential of an algae fractionation process to produce renewable diesel fuel with 63%–68% lower greenhouse gas (GHG)
(Iteris) Predictive Agriculture Analytics and APIs from Iteris Now Cover Sorghum and Sunflower Crops -- Iteris, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITI), the global leader in applied informatics for transportation and agriculture, today announced the addition of growth models for sunflower and sorghum
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Joule is advancing a production platform for Liquid Fuel from the Sun, expected to eclipse the scale, productivity and cost efficiency of any known alternative to fossil fuel today. Its transformative Helioculture platform directly and
by Jeremy Cox (DelmarvaNow) ... The beet plants bred by his (Frank Turano's) company, meanwhile, appear to be largely free of disease. And they're producing tubers up to twice the size of the commercial varieties growing in the same rows. Turano, the
(AZO CleanTech) In 2014, researchers announced the successful engineering of a poplar plant "designed for deconstruction.” The finding caught the attention of the global scientific community. The highly degradable poplar was the first of its kind, and could considerably lessen
(Donald Danforth Plant Science Center) James Umen, Ph.D., associate member at Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, and colleagues have discovered a way to make algae better oil producers without sacrificing growth. The findings were published September 6, in a
by Terry Mazanec (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) ... So the process removes and processes about 25 tonnes of earth to obtain each gram of Pt, valued at about $35. It is a very lucrative business. Biomass is much like the platinum mine. It
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Fermentalg’s technology optimizes the industrial exploitation of the exceptional properties that are found in microalgae to produce molecules of interest such as the Omega 3 fatty acids, coloring agents, antioxidants and biopolymers, etc. that we
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Dr. Tom Dempster works as a research professor – focusing on strain selection and development, biomass production, algal biofuels and high-value products, and air and wastewater bioremediation – at the Arizona Center for Algae
by Anine Kilian (Engineering News) South African seed selection for research and development company Sunchem’s solaris crop – a nicotine-free tobacco variety that yields significant amounts of sustainable oil for biojet fuel feedstock – has started taking place locally for
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