by James Herron, Grant Smith and Laura Hurst (Bloomberg/LMT Online) There’s plenty of historical precedent for an investment drought, such as that which is occurring among oil majors, leading to a surge in crude prices a few years later. --
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Back TO HOMEEnvironmental Sustainability of Energy Generation from Forest Biomass
(European Commission Science Hub) A new JRC report on the use of woody biomass for energy production in the EU shows the need to recognise that sustainability of bioenergy remains a complex issue with no one-size-fits-all answers, but that win-win and
January 29, 2021 Read Full Article
Can This Unlikely Duo Revive Rural America and Help the Planet? Joe Biden and Tom Vilsack Plan to Take Swift Action on Climate Change Proposals.
by Art Cullen (Storm Lake Times/New York Times) ... Few took carbon sequestration seriously during his previous tenure, a time when “resilient agriculture” had not yet entered the vernacular. But the fundamental conversation in the corridors of power and along
January 28, 2021 Read Full Article
Planting Crops — and Carbon, Too
by Gabriel Popkin (Washington Post) President Biden says farmers can adopt agricultural methods that help fight climate change. Maryland farmer Trey Hill has been trying. ... As the winter cover crops grow, they will feed microbes and improve the soil’s health, which
January 22, 2021 Read Full Article
House Rules Would Exempt Coronavirus, Climate Bills from Budget Limits
(CQ Roll Call) Changes could paper over differences within House Democratic Caucus between deficit hawks and progressives -- The new rules package for the 117th Congress unveiled by House Democrats on Friday would grant a sweeping new exemption from deficit controls
January 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Energy Sorghum May Combine Best of Annual, Perennial Bioenergy Crops
by Julie Wurth (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment) ... A study by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) found that energy sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) behaves more like
January 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Stop Arguing over GMO Crops
by Sarah Garland (Scientific American) The vast majority of the scientific community agrees on both their safety and their potential to help feed the world sustainably -- ... In order for global agriculture to rapidly become more sustainable and climate resilient,
December 15, 2020 Read Full Article
Arlington: Cease The Grease and Protect Your Pipes during the Holidays
(Patch Arlington, TX) By collecting and recycling this used cooking oil and grease, residents are preventing these products from clogging pipes in their home. Arlington residents can protect their home plumbing and prevent sewer backups by recycling used cooking oil
November 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Optimising Miscanthus for a Sustainable Bioeconomy
(Terravesta) The growing global bioeconomy has an indispensable role in tackling the climate crisis, and key to delivering a low carbon economy is securing enough supply of sustainable raw materials and linking them with a near-industrial scale of various bio-based products
November 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Bharat Petroleum Confident of Meeting 10pc Ethanol Blending Target by 2022
(PTI/Outlook India) Bharat Petroleum, which is the national coordinator for ethanol blending by state-owned refiners, is confident of meeting the new government target of blending 10 per cent biofuel with petrol by 2022 with the latest addition of maze to
November 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Wyden Introduces Legislation to Improve Soil Health, Crop Resilience and Address the Climate Crisis
(Office of Senator Ron Wyden, D-OR) U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. introduced legislation to help address the climate crisis by encouraging farming practices that improve soil health and crop resilience and lower the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. “In 2020 alone,
November 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Canola Seen Gaining Ground as Biofuel during COVID-19
by Sean Pratt (Western Producer) A drop in used cooking oil supplies because of the pandemic’s effect on restaurants has opened a door for the oilseed -- COVID-19 is boosting the use of canola oil in the biofuel sector, says
November 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Dalai Lama Joins Pope as Religious Leaders Campaigning against Climate Change
by Natasha Lasky (Our Daily Planet) In an interview with Channel 4 News and the Guardian, the Dalai Lama put out a call to action to fight climate change. He urged world leaders to take immediate action, emphasizing that the effects of
November 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Research Team Sequences Miscanthus Genome
(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/Phys.Org) An international research team has sequenced the full genome of an ornamental variety of miscanthus, a wild perennial grass emerging as a prime candidate for sustainable bioenergy crops. The genome project—led by scientists at the Center for Advanced
October 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Senator Merkley, Congressman Levin Introduce Legislation to End U.S. Sale of Gasoline-Powered Vehicles by 2035
(Office of Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR)) The Zero-Emission Vehicles Act of 2020 will position U.S. to lead global auto industry -- Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Mike Levin (D-CA-49) today introduced in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House
October 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Switching to Switchgrass – Will DOE and USDA Funding Turn Switchgrass into a Rockstar Biofuel Feedstock?
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... So as we look for better biofuel feedstocks, we look at switchgrass because of new U.S. Department of Energy AND U.S. Department of Agriculture funding to study it for biofuels. Could it be
September 28, 2020 Read Full Article
How Do Carbon Offsets Work?
by Sarah Kaplan (Washington Post) ...“The whole purpose of offsets,” said University of California at Berkeley climate policy researcher Barbara Haya, “is to create a way for an individual or a company or a university to pay someone else to
September 24, 2020 Read Full Article
RFA’s Virtual Heartland Tour Gives Congressional and Agency Staff an Inside Look at Ethanol Industry
(Renewable Fuels Association) Congressional staff and other federal and state decisionmakers got an up-close virtual look at the U.S. ethanol industry last week as part of the Renewable Fuels Association’s Virtual Heartland Tour. The event included a series of educational videos
September 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Intensive Monoculture Is Putting Water Systems in Peril
(University of Birmingham) The global spread of vast forest plantations and agricultural monocultures are turning once diverse landscapes into areas of land supporting single plant species, with profound implications for our terrestrial water cycle, according to new research. A new paper
September 24, 2020 Read Full Article
The Protection Election, in a Year of Choices: Trump v Biden, Law-and-Order v Defund-the-Police, Border Walls v Bridges, and Even Crop Protection Care of FMC, Zymergen
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In the world of biotechnology, it’s the same, which is to say that everyone wants protection, but no one agrees on ‘protection against what?’ Some people want to be protected against famine, disease, resource depletion
September 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Greener Flights from Greener Fields - Using Aviation Biofuel
(European Commission) Jet fuel from renewable sources holds the key to significantly reducing the environmental impact of aviation. EU-funded researchers have set out to boost Europe's production capacity, and are also developing a process that would leverage the growing of
September 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Delaware AG Jennings Claims Deception by Big Oil in Climate Change Lawsuit
(Delaware Business Now) Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Thursday that Delaware will sue 31 fossil fuel companies. “Delawareans are already paying for the malfeasance of the world’s biggest fossil fuel companies,” said General Jennings. “Exxon, Chevron, and other mega-corporations knew exactly what
September 11, 2020 Read Full Article
WIU School of Agriculture Part of Second Pennycress Research Grant
(Western Illinois University) Just 12 months after Western Illinois University Agriculture Professor Win Phippen announced the award of a $10 million federal grant to investigate the use of Pennycress as a commercial cash crop, a second grant has been awarded
September 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Senate Climate Crisis Committee Report Supports Biofuels in New Report
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) ... The new report – which comes after dozens of hearings, meetings, and input from experts, labor unions, mayors, environmental justice leaders, and native communities, among others – details how bold climate action from Congress can
August 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Till, Baby, Till – $13M DOE Grant Advances New High-Value Feedstock, Pennycress
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a five-year, $13 million grant to a nationwide research project to genetically strengthen Thlaspi arvense, commonly known as pennycress, for use in sustainable energy efforts. CoverCress is an
August 25, 2020 Read Full Article
Exploring the Sustainability of the Indian Sugar Industry
(Standford University/EurekAlert!) Generations of political support for sugar cultivation have helped India become the second-largest producer of sugar worldwide. Now, the country's commitment to renewable energy could create additional benefits, like conserving natural resources and providing better nutrition to the poor. Stanford
August 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuels Project Led by John Sedbrook Awarded $13 Million from DOE
by Rachel Hatch (News Illinois State University) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a $13 million grant to a nationwide project led by Illinois State University. Professor of Genetics John Sedbrook will head up the project aimed to genetically
August 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Bayer Takes Steps to Make Carbon Sequestration a Farmer’s Newest Crop Opportunity
(Bayer) Bayer to reward growers to generate carbon credits by adopting climate-smart practices and creating a new revenue stream on-farm / The initiative makes Bayer the first company to develop a transparent, science-based and collaborative approach to a carbon market
July 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Bamboo Forests in the Desert
David Liepman (Disruptive Nation) ... Strong commercial applications of bamboo include sustainable branded products such as pulp paper, timber, lumber and textiles. And, in line with tissue and textile major brand owner concerns, bamboo is twice as soft as cotton and
June 26, 2020 Read Full Article
NACSAA Submits Policy Recommendations to Senate Climate Crisis Panel
(North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) The North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance (NACSAA) submitted last week a detailed set of policy and program recommendations to the Senate Democrats' Special Committee on the Climate Crisis. The submission, which was made in response
June 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Scouting Report: We look at 4 Microbial Phenoms, Who’s Headed for the Major Leagues?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 1. Advanced Yeast for sugarfree gum ... 2. Merging light, enzymes ... 3. BioLumic snags phenom CEO ... Rooted in more than a decade of research into UV light treatments in plants and spun out from
June 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Safflower Oil Hailed by Scientists as Possible Recyclable, Biodegradable Replacement for Petroleum
by Tim Lee (ABC News) ...Victorian grain grower David Jochinke, who participated in the trials, said the prospect of pioneering a biofuel was exciting. "To have a product that needs very little refining, is biodegradable, is a bio-energy, is a bio-fuel,
June 11, 2020 Read Full Article
Why Is No One Talking about Agriculture as a Solution to Climate Change?
by Karn Manhas (Terramera/AgFunder News) ... Far less attention has been paid to agriculture’s capacity to be a climate solution. How? Through the production and maintenance of healthy living soil. The world’s soils contain 2,500 gigatons of carbon — more than three times more
May 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Could We Develop Plants to Absorb Our Excess Carbon? Salk Plant Biologists Have a Bold Solution to Climate Change
(Massive Science/The Salk Institute) ... Plants — historically speaking, our most reliable friends — have evolved to capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide. They use energy from the sun to convert CO2 and water into sugar and other important molecules,
May 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Harvard Study Bolsters Ethanol's Role In Protecting Public Health, Saving Lives
(Oklahoma Farm Bureau) ... The Harvard team's recent findings underscore the need to power more of our transportation system with non-petroleum-based fuels, like ethanol. The research team looked specifically at polluted areas beleaguered by fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5). Motor vehicle emissions
April 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Oil Boom: ZeaKal Boosts Soybean Oil Output by 18%, Protein up 3%, No Drop in Yield
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... ZeaKal, which announced that its multiyear field trials of its PhotoSeed technology – and their soybeans increased the per acre production of oil and protein by 18 percent and three percent respectively without any penalty
April 17, 2020 Read Full Article
States Ask EPA for Nationwide Biofuel Waiver to Help Oil Refiners Weather Coronavirus
by Laura Sanicola (Reuters) The governors of five U.S. states have asked the Trump administration for a nationwide waiver exempting the oil-refining industry from the nation’s biofuel laws to help it survive a demand meltdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak, according
April 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuel Promotion Put off as Ethanol Needed for Sterilisation Products
(The Nation Thailand) he Energy Ministry has postponed plans to promote the use of biofuels until the Covid-19 outbreak is eased. The ministry had initially told oil refineries to stop producing gasohol 91 as of June 1 in a move to promote
April 15, 2020 Read Full Article
The Pongamia Prospect: Tree from India May Breathe New Life into Florida’s Ghost Groves”
by Anthony Westbury (Treasure Coast Business) ... Pongamia is a tree crop with several key advantages over citrus. It grows wild in India, where its pods have traditionally been crushed to yield lamp oil. The left-over meal is often used
April 10, 2020 Read Full Article
'Tequila' Powered Biofuels More Efficient than Corn or Sugar: Ethanol from Agave Could Be Used for Biofuels and Hand Sanitiser
by Marcus Storm (University of Sydney) The plant better known for making tequila requires no irrigation and produces comparable or better yields of ethanol than sugar or corn. Economic analysis shows a first-generation crop will need government support to kickstart
April 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Lower Ethanol Demand Could Impact Planting Decisions
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) USDA’s 2020 Prospective Plantings report released Tuesday estimates planted acres for corn this year at 97.0 million acres, up 8 percent or 7.29 million acres from last year. But when farmers were surveyed a month ago, coronavirus had yet
April 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Biomass Fuels Can Significantly Mitigate Global Warming
(American Associates/Ben-Gurion University of the Negev/EurekAlert!) Biomass fuels derived from various grasses could significantly mitigate global warming by reducing carbon, according to a long-term field study by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Michigan State University (MSU). In a
March 10, 2020 Read Full Article
North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance Sends Recommendations to Capitol Hill
(North America Climate Smart Agricultur Alliance) The North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance (NACSAA) – a wide range of voices, focuses, and viewpoints from across the North American agricultural industry – submitted to the House Select Committee on the Climate
March 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Rural Climate Action in the U.S. and China
(Wilson Center) In China and the United States--the top two emitters of greenhouse gasses--most climate policies and civil society campaigns have focused on reducing fossil fuels.. At this China Environment Forum (CEF) meeting, speakers will instead shine a light on the
March 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Building a 100 Percent Clean Future Can Drive an Additional $8 Billion a Year to Rural Communities
by Bidisha Bhattacharyya, Ryan Richards, and Rita Cliffton (Center for American Progress) Rural communities face many challenges, and climate change is only making matters worse. Flooding and drought are hitting rural communities hard, causing massive financial losses for farmers, who
March 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Composting Foundation’s Research Scholarships Available DEADLINE: April 10, 2020
(BioCycle Magazine) The Composting Council Research & Education Foundation (CCREF) is offering scholarships to undergraduate through PhD students studying at a college or university in the U.S. interested in doing compost-related research projects. The scholarship is for $4,000. The goal
March 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Congresswoman Pingree Introduces the Agriculture Resilience Act to Promote Farmer-Driven Climate Solutions Legislation Sets Goal of Reaching Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions in U.S. Agriculture by 2040
(Office of Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine)) Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today introduced the Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA), comprehensive legislation that sets a bold vision of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in U.S. agriculture by the year 2040. “Farming has always been a
March 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Shunned Tree that Has Huge Biofuel Potential
by Tim Wanyonyi (Daily Nation) Croton megalocarpus grows naturally in various ecological zones — from the Coast to the highlands of central Kenya and the drylands of the North Rift. It is called Msenefu in Kiswahili, Mukinduri in Gikuyu and Kelelwet in
March 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Renewable Gas Infrastructure Expands in San Joaquin Valley
(NGV Journal/Southern California Gas) Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) Vice President Cedric Williams joined Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh, and local air quality regulators to mark the grand opening of a CNG fueling station located in Bakersfield, California. The new facility is
February 19, 2020 Read Full Article
The World Is Running Short of Sugar and Top Buyer Wants More
by Yoga Rusmana and Eko Listiyorini (Bloomberg) Just as the world’s top sugar traders forecast a global shortage of the commodity, No. 1 raw-sugar importer Indonesia says it wants a record amount of the sweet stuff. ... Global sugar prices
February 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Farmers Are Poised to Tackle Climate Change With Technology and Innovation
by Jamey Mulligan and Moira McDonald (Morning Consult/World Resources Institute/Walton Family Foundation) American farmers know all too well the effects of our changing climate. If it’s not flooding, it’s drought, then flooding again. But American farmers — whether they know it
February 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Rural America’s Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Rural Energy for America Program, The Farm Bill
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Between droughts, trade wars, and more, Rural America has had so many challenges, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture is trying to help with various Rural Business-Cooperative Service’s programs including investment of approximately $2 billion across
January 31, 2020 Read Full Article
E&C Leaders Release Draft Clean Future Act Legislative Text to Achieve a 100 Percent Clean Economy
(U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce) Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee Chairman Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Energy Subcommittee Chairman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) today released legislative text of the draft Climate Leadership and
January 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Genetic Modification of Poplar Trees Saves Air Quality
(National Science Foundation) Some trees, such as poplars, emit gases that worsen air pollution and alter climate. Poplar trees are sources of biofuels and other products, including paper and plywood. -- Poplar trees are widely used in commercial products, but, like
January 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Payments for Ecosystem Services Key to Enabling Agricultural Solutions to Sustainable Development Goals, Ag Renaissance
(Solutions from the Land) As discussions on climate change, clean water, hunger, poverty and biodiversity grow both on the domestic and global stages, the role of agriculture in addressing these mega-challenges is filling a growing role at the policy table. Statewide
January 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Despite Lukewarm Reviews, COP25 Offered Bright Prospects for Role of Ag
(Solutions from the Land) Assessments in the press and among many policy advocacy groups panned the two-week global climate talks that closed last week. But the negotiations were not without high points, including a greater recognition of the role of
December 19, 2019 Read Full Article
McEachin, Haaland, Dingell, Blumenauer, Tonko & Pingree Introduce 100% Clean Legislation
(Office of A. Donald McEAchin (D VA-04)) Today, Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) introduced the 100% Clean Economy Act of 2019 with Representatives Deb Haaland (NM-01), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), Paul Tonko (NY-20) and Chellie Pingree (ME-01). This legislation sets
December 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Soil Carbon Science for Policy and Practice
by Mark A. Bradford, Chelsea J. Carey, Lesley Atwood, Deborah Bossio, Eli P. Fenichel, Sasha Gennet, Joseph Fargione, Jonathan R. B. Fisher, Emma Fuller, Daniel A. Kane, Johannes Lehmann, Emily E. Oldfield, Elsa M. Ordway, Joseph Rudek, Jonathan Sanderman &
December 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Talks in Madrid Give Agriculture Another Opportunity to Advance Climate Solutions
(Solutions from the Land) ... Representatives from the North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance (NACSAA), a farmer-led platform for North American agricultural partners facilitated by Solutions from the Land, have been attending and contributing to the global discussions for the last two years.
December 05, 2019 Read Full Article
UP Sugar Mills Not Interested in Converting Old Sugar to Ethanol
by Jayashree Bhosale (Economic Times) The food ministry’s latest notification allowing India’s sugar producers to convert surplus stocks into ethanol to be blended with petrol comes as an additional support measure for the industry. However, mills in Uttar Pradesh, the
December 04, 2019 Read Full Article
“The Thing to Remember Is that It’s Agriculture.” Manta's New Way to Think about Algal Biofuel
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Not only is the Manta Biofuel system a way to grow, harvest and process algae into oil that can be used for heating or powering heavy duty engines or ocean-going vessels, or as a
November 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Researchers Double Sorghum Grain Yield to Improve Food Supply
by Charlotte Hu (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory/Phys.org) Plant scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS), in their search for solutions to global food production challenges, have doubled the amount of grains that a sorghum
November 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Indonesia's Biofuel Plan Will Impact Global Palm Oil Price, Analysts Say
by Nur Yasmin (Jakarta Globe) Indonesia's B30 biofuel plan, which will become effective at the beginning of January next year, will further increase domestic consumption of palm oil and prop up the price of the commodity, analysts said. The average palm oil
November 05, 2019 Read Full Article
USGC: DDGS Trials Expand Sales in Southeastern Mexico
(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) From the tropics in Campeche to the jungles in Palenque to the mountains in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the U.S. Grains Council is helping build markets through demonstration trials for U.S. dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), known
October 23, 2019 Read Full Article
Interaction Encouraged
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Jaime Finguerut, director of the Sugarcane Technology Institute in Brazil, showed a presentation slide titled, “EMERGENCY!” as he explained to his audience at The Alcohol School Sept. 10 that the climate crisis is the
October 23, 2019 Read Full Article
Clemson Researcher Developing Perennial Grasses that Could Reduce Water Use and Be Fuel Source
by Laura Schmitt (The NewsStand) Clemson University College of Science professor Hong Luo has received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture to develop genetically improved and more robust turfgrass and switchgrass. These perennial plants
October 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Good Reasons for Biofuels: Facts about the Ongoing Decarbonisation of Road Transport
(Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e. V. (UFOP)) Human-caused climate change is already visible and is especially evident in agriculture, as the “drought year” of 2018 clearly demonstrated. Agriculture,
October 14, 2019 Read Full Article
Addressing Environmental Challenges in the Americas: A Call for Applications DEADLINE: September 30, 2019
(Wilson Center) The impacts of environmental degradation and climate change are increasingly visible across the globe, affecting the resilience of communities and threatening biodiversity. From extreme weather events such as hurricanes and wildfires, to slow onset disasters like droughts and sea-level rise,
September 25, 2019 Read Full Article
Highlights of #ClimateForum2020 Day 1
(Our Daily Planet) What a day! Here are just a few highlights! We will have some special exclusive content for you fin the days ahead including interviews with the candidates. Senator Bernie Sanders had a standing room only crowd. We had a
September 20, 2019 Read Full Article
DOE Taps Danforth Plant Science Center for Research to Improve Sorghum as a Bioenergy Crop
(Green Car Congress) The US Department of Energy (DOE), through its Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER), has launched a major initiative to develop bioenergy crops through genomics-based research. Danforth Center Principal Investigator, Andrea Eveland, Ph.D., will lead a multi-institutional project
September 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Global Leaders Issue Report Underscoring Imminent Need for Adaptation
(Solutions from the Land) A panel of political, business and environmental leaders is the latest to issue warnings about the growing climate crisis emanating from increasingly volatile global weather patterns. Citing what it calls new research findings, the Global Commission on Adaptation,
September 12, 2019 Read Full Article
MU’s Cheng Utilizing Deep Learning Expertise for Key Federal Biofuel Project
(University of Missouri College of Engineering) Mizzou Engineering’s Jianlin Cheng has put his world-class protein prediction skills to stellar use in the field of healthcare, and now, he’s part of a critical effort in bioenergy — one that could dramatically improve the prospects
September 09, 2019 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Announces $64 Million for Research on Plants and Microbes: Genomics-Based Research Will Help Develop Crops for Bioenergy
(U.S. Department of Energy) oday, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $64 million in funding for 25 university-led genomics research projects on plants and microbes for bioenergy and bioproducts. The plant research—12 projects totaling $29 million over three years—focuses on expanding knowledge of
August 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Election Campaigns Can Boost Role of Agriculture in Combating a Changing Climate
(Solutions from the Land) Rural America drew a considerable amount of attention in the last presidential election. President Trump won the White House in large part due to the support he received from voters in this nation's vast non-metropolitan areas.
August 28, 2019 Read Full Article
Climate and National Security Forum 2019: A Climate Security Plan for America --- September 24, 2019 --- Washington, DC
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The Center for Climate and Security, in partnership with the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, invites you to join us for the 2019 Climate and National Security Forum: A Climate Security Plan for America. This year’s forum will focus on the risks that
August 27, 2019 Read Full Article
Firm Launches Plan to Cut One Trillion Tons of CO2 From Atmosphere
(Solutions from the Land) A company that says it is "dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet," announced last month the launch of The Terraton Initiative™, a project designed to accelerate carbon sequestration at an unprecedented scale. ... Among the
July 09, 2019 Read Full Article
EID Parry Chalks out Expansion Plans to Tap Ethanol
(PTI/Money Control) The company has obtained in-principle approval from the Department of Food and Public distribution, for its expansion under the central government scheme, extending financial assistance to mills for enhancement and augmentation of Ethanol production capacity. ... The city-based company in its
July 09, 2019 Read Full Article
WEBINAR: Conversion-Ready Feedstocks Webinar 2 --- June 20, 2019
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Conversion-Ready Feedstocks Webinar 2 will feature national laboratory and academia researchers and includes studies as diverse as recycling of biorefining chemicals and the impacts of drought on chemical and sugar yields of various feedstock resources, among other research topics. Presenters
June 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Kenya Farmers Fight Drought with Biofuel from Cotton Waste
(Voice of America/Reuters) Kenyan farmer Abel Mutie Mathoka thought it must be a joke when he was told he could irrigate his drought-hit crops more cheaply, cleanly and efficiently using a pump fueled by cotton waste. “Who could believe it’s possible
June 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Biofuel Offers a Solution to the World’s Renewable Energy Crisis
by Barclay Ballard (The New Economy) Solar cells and wind farms are commonly referenced in the fight against climate change, but there is another, often overlooked, form of energy production that is already playing a sizable role. Bioenergy, which includes both biomass
May 21, 2019 Read Full Article
California Energy Commission Awards Nearly $11M to Support Biofuels, Renewable Gas and Microgrids
(Green Car Congress) The California Energy Commission approved nearly $11 million for clean energy demonstration projects, including biofuels, renewable gas, and microgrids. The Energy Commission approved a $2-million grant to Technology & Investment Solutions to demonstrate a more sustainable and cost-effective process of
May 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Breakthrough Technique for Studying Gene Expression Takes Root in Plants
(U.S. Department of Energy/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/EurekAlert!) Berkeley Lab scientists adapt open-source genetic analysis method for use in plant cells for the first time -- An open-source RNA analysis platform has been successfully used on plant cells for the first time -
May 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Kenya’s Farmers Battle Drought through Biodiesel Made from Cotton Waste
by Sanjoy Sanyal and Esther Kahinga (World Resources Institute) ... While irrigation systems could help provide a more stable source of water, they currently cover only six to eight percent of Kenya’s land. Some farmers, though, are gaining access to them through a
May 02, 2019 Read Full Article
French Amusement Park Teaches Kids about Climate Change
(Our Daily Planet) ... While climate change can be a difficult subject to discuss with kids (there’s not a lot of good news), not doing so leaves kids woefully unprepared to understand the planet they will inherit. That’s why a children’s
April 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Study of Sorghum-Munching Aphids Earns NSF Award
(University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources) ... University of Nebraska–Lincoln entomologist Joe Louis is investigating ways to help sorghum naturally resist sugarcane aphids, the crop’s most damaging pest in the United States. Louis earned a five-year, $1.5 million Faculty Early
April 26, 2019 Read Full Article
TerViva Raises $20 Million in Series D to Drive Product Development and Market Expansion
(TerViva/MarketWatch/PR NewsWire) Led by Ag Family Offices and Climate-Smart Investors, Funding Round Brings Ag-Tech Firm to $40 Million Raised for High-Yielding, Sustainable Plant Protein Product Development -- TerViva, an agriculture technology firm commercializing resilient pongamia trees that produce as much as ten
March 27, 2019 Read Full Article
Bolivia Allows Planting of GM Soy to Make Biodiesel
(Los Angeles Times) Soy producers in eastern Bolivia's Santa Cruz region welcome the government's decision to allow cultivation of genetically modified soy, albeit only for the purpose of producing biodiesel. President Evo Morales ' administration, which has been skeptical about GM
March 22, 2019 Read Full Article
Midwest Storms Wreak Havoc on Ethanol Trade and Potentially Production
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Nebraska, Platts reports that last week’s major storm that saw flooding and blizzards across the Midwest lead to major disruptions of ethanol supplies around the region as well as getting product to deficit markets on the coasts
March 21, 2019 Read Full Article
Factoring the Effects of Climate Change into Real Estate Investments
by Roger K. Lewis (Washington Post) ... Real estate property could actually be underwater because of future climate change. ... Risks exist at all geographic scales and places: along seacoasts; within watersheds; on hillsides; and in vulnerable urban, suburban and exurban areas. Individual
March 10, 2019 Read Full Article
Report: Feds' Biofuel Policy Produced Unintended Environmental Consequences
(Public News Service) A new report says the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, created to spur ethanol production and cut air pollution, is responsible for a number of negative environmental impacts, including reduced water supplies in Texas and other drought-prone areas. Producing a single
March 09, 2019 Read Full Article
Biofuture Platform Response to Open Letter from Global Forest Coalition and Other NGOs
(Biofuture Platform) In response to the open letter ... the Biofuture Platform reaffirms the unwavering commitment to its mandate to promote and exchange lessons, knowledge and analysis on sustainable, environmentally friendly, and resource efficient solutions to scale up the low carbon bioeconomy. The Biofuture Platform
February 28, 2019 Read Full Article
Society of Environmental Journalists Program at Wilson Center Illustrated Problem with Climate Change Journalism
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Billed as the “2019 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment,” the Society of Environmental Journalists held their annual presentation on Energy and Environmental Journalism January 25 at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC. The event
February 24, 2019 Read Full Article
EPA Could Immediately Increase Volume of Low-Carbon Biofuels by Over 50 Percent
by Jesse Stolark (Energy and Environmental Study Institute) The EPA is leaving 200 million gallons of cellulosic biofuels on the table, according to the newly formed Biomass Power Coalition, a group of biomass trade organizations, biomass power producers, and supporters (EESI is
February 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Rs 8,500 Crore Investment Lined up for Ethanol; Two-Thirds by Sugar Mills
by Virendra Singh Rawat (Business Standard) Sugar mills in the top sugar producing states viz. Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh are projected to account for 40% and 30% of the fresh ethanol capacity addition -- Amid the growing clamour to insulate the Rs
February 07, 2019 Read Full Article
UFOP Report on Global Market Supply 2018/2019: Combining Economically Viable Agriculture with Appropriate Agricultural Market and Climate Protection Policies
(Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Crops (UFOP)) The Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Crops (UFOP) has formulated its policy expectations on the occasion of the presentation of the third edition of the Global Market Supply
February 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Rapeseed Costs Less than Fuel Oil
by Helena Taveras Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Germany, UFOP reports that for years now, dramatically low prices have defined the level of revenues from rapeseed and soft wheat. The drought year 2018 did not do anything to change this. So anyone who is
January 28, 2019 Read Full Article
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard
(Environmental Defense Fund/WebWire) The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decisive ruling upholding California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard – the state’s landmark program to reduce climate pollution from the fuel used in cars and trucks. The court sided with California on all issues
January 22, 2019 Read Full Article
Sustainable Connectivity: How Biofuels Can Boost Mobile Access, Support Small Farmers – And Fight Climate Change
by John Garrity, Dennis Garrity and James Daniel (Next Billion) In rural villages across communities in Africa and Asia, families stay connected with distant loved ones, and benefit from reduced information and transaction costs, by using a mobile phone — but only during the
January 21, 2019 Read Full Article
A Sensible Approach to Climate Change Policy
(Solutions from the Land) ... That opening now allows for the presentation and consideration of a more centered and pragmatic approach like that promoted by Solutions from the Land (SfL) and the other members of the North America Climate Smart Agriculture
January 17, 2019 Read Full Article
We’ll Begin Production of Ethanol, Glucose Syrup from Sweet Sorghum Soon
by Vincent A. Yusuf (Daily Trust) Nigeria will in the first quarter of 2019 begin the production of ethanol and glucose syrup from sweet sorghum for industrial use. In this interview, the Director General of Raw Materials Research Council (RMRDC), Dr.
January 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Trump Issues Executive Order on Forest Management
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) An executive order on forest management issued by President Trump in late December addresses how rural economies can benefit through the utilization of byproducts created by forest restoration efforts. Trump issued the executive order on Dec. 21.
January 02, 2019 Read Full Article
African Centre for Crop Improvement Sweet Sorghum Varieties Poised to Boost Biofuel Industry
(African Centre for Crop Improvement) A breakthrough by the African Centre for Crop Improvement in the breeding of sorghum could have far-reaching implications for the biofuel and bioplastic industries in South Africa. For the last decade, ACCI director Professor Mark Laing has
January 02, 2019 Read Full Article
COP24, 2018 Farm Bill Give Agriculture a Voice, Climate Smart Tools
(Solutions from the Land) As 2018 closes out, advocates for the role agriculture can play in facing a changing climate can feel encouraged by developments on the international and domestic stages. Global climate negotiators in Katowice, Poland, came to a final agreement
December 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Biofuels and Environmental Groups Commend New Pilot Environmental Quality and Incentive Program in 2018 Farm Bill Report
(Grain Net) The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Environmental Entrepreneurs(E2), the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) thank the Farm Bill conferees for including a new pilot Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) in the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Report to promote and
December 13, 2018 Read Full Article
Clean Electricity, Clean Buildings and Clean Transportation: Inslee Plan Would Launch Comprehensive Clean Energy Transition and Significantly Drive Down Emissions
(Office of Washington State Governor Jay Inslee) Gov. Jay Inslee was joined today by Democratic legislators and climate action supporters to unveil a plan that would launch a dramatic reduction of Washington state’s greenhouse gas emissions over the next 15 years. The
December 11, 2018 Read Full Article
To Fulfill Biofuels’ Promise, Scientists Boost Plant Oils with Gene Editing
by Cici Zhang (Chemical and Engineering News) Increasing the fatty acids in crops’ seeds, leaves, and stems could make biofuels more economically viable -- ... Plant scientist Heike Sederoff of North Carolina State University, however, is very familiar with the oils
December 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Four Market and Policy Opportunities to Increase Agricultural Resilience
by Suzy Friedman, Colleen Willard and Stephanie Mercier (Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the Farm Journal Foundation (FJF) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA)) In July 2018, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the Farm Journal Foundation (FJF) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) convened, “Market
December 04, 2018 Read Full Article
Republicans Say They Want Free-Market Innovation. Then They Should Want a Carbon Tax.
by Catherine Rampell (Washington Post) ... Alternatively, some Republicans suggest that, yes, the planet may be warming and, yes, humans may be the reason, but it’s too darn expensive to do much more than we are. ... As Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) equivocated on CNN’s
November 27, 2018 Read Full Article
Redesigning Poplar Trees to Take the Drought ... and the Salt and the Heat
(North American Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) Poplar saplings being grown at the University of California Davis are not expected to survive the rigorous conditions simulating prolonged droughts and heat waves that are being imposed on them. But they are helping a
November 02, 2018 Read Full Article
SfL Report Assesses Challenges Posed by Changing Climatic Conditions in Missouri
(Solutions from the Land) Solutions from the Land (SfL) commends Missouri agriculture and forestry leaders who looked into the future, examined what science is telling them is coming from changing climatic conditions and extreme weather events, and explored opportunities to
October 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Alternative Fuels Home Grown Bioenergy Contributes to Forest Health and Rural Jobs Across America
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) 88 Organizations Sign Statement Supporting Renewable Bioenergy and Biomass -- On Bioenergy Day and during National Forest Products Week, we recognize the importance of using domestic biomass for a wide variety of applications: renewable energy, heating and
October 26, 2018 Read Full Article
Innovations in Biomass-Based Diesel
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Two ethanol producers are adopting quite different innovative technologies to add value to their corn oil—one making biodiesel with supercritical methods, the other making renewable diesel. East Kansas Agri-Energy’s renewable diesel plant has been
October 24, 2018 Read Full Article
Senators to Trump Administration: Don’t Challenge California’s Clean Car Standards
(Office of Senator Dianne Feinstein) Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today was joined by 22 senators in calling on the Trump administration to end its challenge of California’s authority to set vehicle emission standards. The senators represent states that follow California’s standards. "The changes
October 24, 2018 Read Full Article
Blue Agave Crop Grown in Far North Queensland to Be Burnt at Sugar Mill for Power Generation
by Courtney Wilson (ABC News) Blue agave — which is the base ingredient for tequila — is currently grown on a commercial scale in Mexico, but Queensland's MSF Sugar is aiming to become a world industry leader, with plans to plant
October 22, 2018 Read Full Article
Redesigning Poplar Trees to Take the Drought ... and the Salt and the Heat
by Laura Shields (Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Improving poplar biomass production under stress conditions -- ... Stresses, such as high temperatures and a lack of freshwater, can cause reduced crop growth or even complete loss. The rising frequency of these
October 08, 2018 Read Full Article
A Bird's Eye View of Bioenergy
by Bill Keba* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The Mid-Atlantic Bioenergy Conference and Expo (MABEX) was held on September 12 and 13 at the Convene at CityView in Philadelphia, Pa. The Mid-Atlantic Bioenergy Council did well in selecting this terrific skyscraping venue.
October 06, 2018 Read Full Article
GACSA Strategic Plan Underscores Importance of Climate Smart Agriculture
(Solutions from the Land) The Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco brought much attention to the efforts underway by the North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance (NACSAA) to promote changes in agricultural practices that can increase the amount of carbon
September 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Agrisoma, United Airlines and World Energy Complete Longest Transatlantic Biojet Flight
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Carinata is proving that it is a feedstock to be reckoned with, a compelling catalyst for change, with the latest news that Agrisoma, United Airlines and World Energy came together for the longest transatlantic biojet flight
September 17, 2018 Read Full Article
High Feedstock Prices Hardly Reached Consumers
(Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP)) The scarcity of supply of agricultural feedstock due to drought-related declines in yield had little impact on consumer prices. The main factors driving prices up were labour or energy costs. ... The association has
September 03, 2018 Read Full Article
City’s Own Diesel Fleet Transitioning to 100 Percent Renewable Fuel
(City of Vancouver) Emissions reduction target will be reached early thanks to contract with Suncor -- “This shift in fuel, in conjunction with the ways we are optimizing and electrifying our fleet, proves that we are walking the talk and finding innovative
August 15, 2018 Read Full Article
European Drought Increases Ethanol Feedstock Costs but Also Boosts Dried Distillers Grains Prices
by Chrysa Glystra (S&P Global Platts) The hot and dry weather that has swept across Northwest Europe over the summer months has seen grains prices skyrocket but has also increased demand for animal feed, including dried distillers grains, a by-product of ethanol
August 10, 2018 Read Full Article
EU Backs Industrial-Scale Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production Project and Camelina Cultivation Research
(GreenAir Online) A new EU-backed project has been launched to demonstrate the first industrial-scale production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Europe. The four-year BIO4A initiative will also investigate the potential of reclaiming dry marginal land at risk of
June 25, 2018 Read Full Article
New Machine Learning Approach Could Accelerate Bioengineering
(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/Biomass Magazine) Scientists from the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a way to use machine learning to dramatically accelerate the design of microbes that produce biofuel. Their computer algorithm starts with abundant data about the
June 07, 2018 Read Full Article
Global Sorghum Seed Market Is Driven by Growing Demand Biofuel across the Globe
(Futures Trading Charts) The global sorghum seed market revenue is expected to expand at a lucrative CAGR over the forecast period. Sorghum is a cereal grain used as human feed and livestock feed and the rest is turned into ethanol. Sorghum
May 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Are You Anti-GMO? Then You’re Anti-Science, Too.
by Michael Gerson (The Washington Post) ... My boycott is rooted in the fact that there is no reputable scientific evidence that direct genetic modification — instead of slower genetic modification through selective breeding — has any health effects of any
May 04, 2018 Read Full Article
California Says a Car-Emissions Deal With Trump Could Be Doable
by Mark Chediak, Ryan Beene, and John Lippert (Bloomberg) ‘Reason could prevail,’ chair of Air Resources Board says; State is considering a lawsuit to preserve its options -- California’s top air-quality regulator sees hope for a deal with the Trump administration over fuel
April 11, 2018 Read Full Article
Parliamentary Committee Raises Concern over Ethanol Blending Programme
(IANS /Moneylife) Raising an alarm over slow ethanol procurement for blending with the petrol, a parliamentary committee has flagged loopholes in the government's Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP). The EBP, under Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, aims at blending ethanol with petrol,
March 23, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Sustainable Bioeconomy for Arid Regions (SBAR)
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sustainable Bioeconomy for Arid Regions (SBAR) is a multi-level research project that will cultivate two desert-dwelling crops, guayule and guar, for a sustainable bioeconomy. Combined, guayule (perennial) and guar (annual) feedstocks can provide biomass year round
March 15, 2018 Read Full Article
The Secret to Tripling the Number of Grains in Sorghum and Perhaps Other Staple Crops
by Jennifer Michalowski (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) Scientists have figured out how to triple the number of grains that the sorghum plant produces: by lowering the level of a key hormone, generating more flowers and more seeds. This points toward a
March 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Stress Testing Algae’s Internal Solar Panels
by Igor Houwat (Algae Industry Magazine) A collaboration between the Benning and Kramer labs is revealing how algae’s internal solar panels constantly grow and shrink in size to adjust to changes in their environments, a crucial system that ensures their hosts stay healthy and alive. The
February 27, 2018 Read Full Article
Farmers Defend Biofuels as Part of EU’s Upcoming ‘Protein Strategy’
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (EURACTIV.com) There is a need to maintain the EU’s main source of protein feed that are the co-product of biofuels, the European farmers association Copa-Cogeca told EURACTIV.com as the Commission announced its intention to draw up an EU-wide “protein
February 24, 2018 Read Full Article
Study Says CRP Mixes Don't Live up to Biofuel Potential
by Julie Harker (Brownfield Ag News) Mixed prairie grasses that are used in Conservation Reserve Program lands did not live up to their potential as biomass crops for cellulosic biofuel production, in an eight-year study. D.K. Lee, associate crop science professor at
February 21, 2018 Read Full Article
In Kenya, An Entrepreneur Is Using Biodiesel To Fight Climate Change
by Sanjoy Sanyal (World Resources Institute/Clean Technica/The Beam) ... Taher Zavery’s company, Kitui Industries, started experimenting with biodiesel in 2008, when oil prices were peaking. This alternative fuel produced from vegetable oil is obtained from crushing cotton seed, and can replace
February 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Husker Researchers Explore Economic Potential for Sweet Sorghum Ethanol in Western Nebraska
by Richard Perrin (University of Nebraska IANR News) A team at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is exploring sweet sorghum ethanol as a future income source for dryland agriculture in western Nebraska. Sweet sorghum is a cultivar of sorghum primarily developed for the
January 26, 2018 Read Full Article
The Circuitry in Our Cells
by Alec A.K. Nielsen (Asimov/Biofuels Digest) ... As you sit quietly, trillions of cells in your body are performing a frenetic dance of biochemical computation that makes your existence possible. Consider this: You were once a single cell – a fertilized egg. This
January 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Sweet Sorghum as an Ethanol Feedstock in Western Nebraska - Could It Happen?
by Richard Perrin, Lilyan Fulginiti, Subir Bairagi, Ismail Dweikat (KRVN) It has been proposed that non-irrigated sweet sorghum might be grown in western Nebraska as a seasonal substitute for corn grain in corn ethanol plants. In the research summarized here1, we
January 20, 2018 Read Full Article
New Study Shows Producers Where and How to Grow Cellulosic Biofuel Crops
(University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences/Science Daily) A new report provides practical agronomic data for five cellulosic feedstocks, which could improve adoption and increase production across the country. -- ... "Early yield estimates were based on data from
January 17, 2018 Read Full Article
Alabama Producers Growing Carinata for Biofuel
by Katie Nichols (Alabama Extension Daily) Alabama growers are sowing the seeds of a new biofuel oil crop this winter. Brassica carinata, informally known as carinata, is similar to canola (Brassica napus L.)—a crop many producers introduced to rotations several years ago. An oilseed crop, carinata
January 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Avoiding GMOs Isn’t Just Anti-Science. It’s Immoral.
by Mitch Daniels (The Washington Post) Of the several claims of “anti-science” that clutter our national debates these days, none can be more flagrantly clear than the campaign against modern agricultural technology, most specifically the use of molecular techniques to create
December 28, 2017 Read Full Article
UF/IFAS-Developed Sorghum Cultivars Can Produce Thousands of Gallons of Ethanol
(University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences/Newswise) ... Although sorghum is a source for table syrup, scientists see a future in which we convert sorghum to biofuel, rather than relying on fossil fuel. That potential just grew as University
December 14, 2017 Read Full Article
What is Renewable Methane?
by Cliff Gladstein (ACT News) ... Attitudes toward the utility of natural gas as the environmentally preferred fuel began to change when technologies to effectively extract natural gas from local shale formations—a process called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”—became widely used. Although the U.S.
December 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Brazilian Ethanol Can Replace 13.7 Percent of World's Crude Oil Consumption
( São Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP/EurekAlert!) Expansion of sugarcane cultivation for biofuel in areas not under environmental protection or reserved for food production could also reduce global emissions of carbon dioxide by up to 5.6%, according to a study by
November 30, 2017 Read Full Article
SimPath Licenses Novel ORNL System for Enhanced Synthetic Biology
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory) SimPath has licensed a novel cloning system developed by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory that generates and assembles the biological building blocks necessary to synthetically bioengineer new medicines and fuels. Knoxville, Tennessee-based startup SimPath
October 20, 2017 Read Full Article
The Other General Waiver: RFS and Severe Economic Harm
by Jonathan Coppess and Scott Irwin (Farms.com/University of Illinois/farmdocdaily) As discussed last week, the Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting data and feedback on the biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels components of the Renewable Fuels Standard, including the general waiver authority (see, farmdoc
October 13, 2017 Read Full Article
No Boredom for Sorghum – Sorghum Reaches Stardom Status with Huge $16 Million Grant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sweet sorghum stardom! In possibly one of the largest government grants given to anyone for research on a single feedstock, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is receiving a 5-year $16 million grant from the U.S. Department
October 09, 2017 Read Full Article
Where Corn Pollutes America Most, and Who’s Responsible
by Eric Roston (Bloomberg) Companies want to know the environmental impact of their supply chains. Researchers used a crucial commodity to show them. -- Not every day does an obscure scientific report directly help massive U.S. companies looking to cut costs,
September 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Consequences of Drought Stress on Biofuels
(Phys.Org/U.S. Department of Energy) ...However, weather conditions could greatly affect crop yields. In this study, researchers examined the effect of weather on biofuel production by comparing switchgrass and corn stover harvested after a year of major drought and after 2
September 11, 2017 Read Full Article
Ninth Annual Green Innovation Index Finds California Clean Economy Thriving but Emissions-Reduction Challenges Loom
(Business Wire/Next 10) As California’s economy continues to grow, the state’s carbon footprint continues to shrink, albeit at a slower pace than in earlier years due in part to a spike in transportation emissions. The ninth annual California Green Innovation Index — released by
August 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Is It the End or Just the Beginning for Jatropha?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In Botswana, jatropha’s adventures are just beginning according to the Ministry of Minerals Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security’s advisor, Freddie Motlhatlhedi. He was referring to a joint research project done by Botswana and Japan that shows
July 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Stockholm Pursues Climate Holy Grail: A Fossil-Fuel-Free Future — Part 2: Stubborn Emissions
by John J. Berger (Huffington Post) ... Sweden’s parliament, prompted in part by the 2015 Paris climate agreement, has proposed a fossil-free Sweden initiative under which the nation would become fossil-fuel free by 2045. The city has an even more ambitious