by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) COVID-19 continues to change how we do things, and LanzaTech shared this illuminating slide guide on how it is changing road and air activity and what that means for biofuels. Disrupting how we think about carbon, alcohol-to-jet,
bioeconomy
Back TO HOME8 Hauntingly Good Innovations, Plant-Based Hair Extensions, Bacardi Biodegradable Bottle, Cultured Steak on Mars, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of October 30th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) This week’s Top 8 Innovations are so good, it’s scary. From plant-based hair extensions that could come in handy for your Halloween costume, cultured meat so astronauts can enjoy steaks on Mars, and Barcardi making
October 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Bioeconomy South Africa Portal Launched
(Republic of South Africa) Businesses and individuals involved in bio-innovation are invited to register on the Bioeconomy SA Portal, a web-based platform that collects information from different sources and integrates it into a single, uniform and secure user interface. The portal, an
October 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Cows and Cannabinoids: Aemetis’ Dairy Digestor Biogas, Hyasynth’s Yeast-Based Cannabinoids
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Things are heating up with Aemetis now producing dairy digester biogas from the first two dairies in a 17 dairy digester biogas project that will be used for ethanol production and added four miles of
October 26, 2020 Read Full Article
Plants Rule! Harnessing the Sun for a Negative-Carbon Bio-economy
(Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Association) ... Among the Carbon-negative (and climate positive) solutions, those based on photosynthesis are by far the cheapest and most scalable options now, and likely for many decades to come. Properly implemented, these solutions can also provide
October 23, 2020 Read Full Article
2020 Impacts Renewable Materials Company: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Stora Enso
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Just this week, Stora Enso released this slide guide on how the company is performing in a challenging business environment amidst a crazy year. President and CEO Annica Bresky and CFO Seppo Parvi noted that sales decreased
October 23, 2020 Read Full Article
ABLC 2021 --- October 27-29, 2021 --- San Francisco, CA
Stability? Will there be the incentives and markets where lowest-carbon fuels, renewable chemicals, protein, advanced foods and sustainable agriculture can thrive? Investment? Where will the money come from for developing and nurturing new companies, and deploying new technology at commercial scale? Technology? How will technologies adapt to
October 22, 2020 Read Full Article
How Best to Measure the Bio-Based Sector’s Contribution to the UN SDGs?
by Luke Upton (BioMarket Insights) The Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) has commissioned guidance produced by the Institute of European Environmental Policy (IEEP) enabling the bio-based industries to better measure how bio-based projects contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This
October 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Cyanobacteria Biofilm that Produces Ethylene, Cool Car, Kicks, and Shades All Biobased, Cell-Based Meat Brisket, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of October 22nd
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Madonna’s lyrics “Cause we are living in a material world, And I am a material girl” come to mind when looking at the hottest innovations of the week. From a biobased car made with coconut
October 22, 2020 Read Full Article
How BETO is Developing the Next Generation of Biofuels: Insights from EERE Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation and BETO Acting Director, Michael Berube
by Michael Berube (U.S. Department of Energy) Every October, we celebrate Bioenergy Day by spreading awareness of how the efforts of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) are contributing to groundbreaking technologies to produce the next generation of biofuels and bioproducts that:
October 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Communicating the Bioeconomy through Maps
(Teagasc) What is the bioeconomy? Is it relevant to me, my sector, my business, the place where I live or my farm? What is unique about it? How does Ireland compare relative to other European countries? And how can I get
October 20, 2020 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Amyris & Cannabinoids
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If you missed Amyris COO Eduardo Alvarez and Sr. VP, R&D Sunil Chandran at last week’s DigestConnect webinar, then check out their slide guide where we asked, is there an opportunity for pure, consistent cannabinoid
October 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Biobased COVID-19 Tests, Masks, Fun with Fungus, Crustacean Shells to Bioplastic, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of October 16th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) COVID-19 has seen an explosion in disposable items, but now innovators in India came up with a paper based COVID-19 test (that happens to be at much lower cost and gets results in under 30
October 16, 2020 Read Full Article
U.S. Department of Energy Announces $27 Million in Plastics Recycling Research and Development
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced over $27 million in funding for 12 projects that will support the development of advanced plastics recycling technologies and new plastics that are recyclable-by-design. As part of DOE’s Plastics
October 15, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuture Summit II Webinar Discusses Biofuture Principles for Post-COVID Recovery with Bio
(Biofuture Summit II) Experiences in implementing the Five Principles were discussed by government representatives from three continents, private sector, and the IEA. The international crisis related to COVID-19 has heavily impacted bioenergy in the short term through a double shock
October 15, 2020 Read Full Article
Renewable Energy Is More than Renewable Electricity: Renewable Gas and Fuel Highlighted as Key Opportunities to Put Tasmania on the World
(BioEnergy Australia) - Consultation has recently closed on the Tasmanian Government draft Renewable Energy Action Plan, which identifies renewable energy as a key economic driver to rebuild a stronger Tasmania in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Bioenergy Australia, the
October 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Cargill, Virent Collaborate on Biobased Fuels and Chemicals
(Cargill/Farm Progress) Goal is to open new markets for corn and expand opportunities for renewable fuels and chemicals. -- Cargill and Virent, Inc. are working together to evaluate the use of Cargill’s corn dextrose as a feedstock to Virent’s BioForming technology
October 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Culture Sushi-Grade Salmon, Cultivated Lab-Beef, Porsche Biobased Car Parts, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of October 2nd
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In San Francisco, startup company Wildtype gives salmon cells nutrients, sugars, salts, amino acids and growth factor to “grow” salmon tissue in its lab. If you are still hungry after that, Netherlands-based Mosa Meat
October 02, 2020 Read Full Article
European Climate Policy and the Bioeconomy – Missed Opportunities or Muddling Through?
by Gerard J. Ostheimer, Douglas L. Faulkner and Philippe Marchand (Biofuels Digest) ... But as we scan the globe for bio-economy green shoots, we are noticing some interesting – and disconcerting – activity “across the pond”. Today we look to Europe
September 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Scotland’s Opportunity to Grow a New Clean, Sustainable Economy
by Mark Bustard (Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC)/Biofuels Digest) The idea of a net zero carbon emissions and zero waste economy isn’t as far-fetched as some may think. The key promise of a bio-based economy is that we can grow the
September 29, 2020 Read Full Article
New Tech Converts Natural Gas to Hydrogen at Scale Anywhere and Plastic-Eating Enzyme ‘Cocktail’ Heralds Hope for Plastic Waste
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In today’s Digest, how Florida-based Transform Materials is literally transforming the petrochemical industry’s ability to convert flared natural gas often emitted at hydraulic fracking wellheads into hydrogen and acetylene using microwave plasma technology, and
September 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Mycelium Coffins, Wine Waste Sneakers, Ingredion’s New Protein Isolates and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of September 24th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) As COVID-19 deaths sadly reached the 200,000 mark in the U.S. this week, some innovators are finding more sustainable ways to deal with death in the form of mycelium coffins that help compost the body
September 25, 2020 Read Full Article
Penn State Future of Bioenergy and Biorenewables Workshop --- October 27, 2020 --- ONLINE free
Hosted by the Penn State Center for Biorenewables and Penn State Extension, with support from the Energy 2100 Initiative.The fields of bioenergy and biorenewables have seen and continue to experience unprecedented growth, as the world seeks to shift its economy
September 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Weaponizing Biomass to Support Biofueled Economic Recovery: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Bioeconomy Development Zones
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Leveraging opportunity zone tax incentives with Bioeconomy Development Zones is a clear pathway to drive and unlock needed capital to bioeconomy projects. Jordan Soloman, President and CEO of Ecostrat, shared this illuminating presentation at ABLC Digital that
September 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Better Catalysts for a Sustainable Bioeconomy
by Brigitte Osterath (The Federal Council Swiss Government/Paul Scherrer Institute) Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI and from ETH Zurich want to make so-called zeolites more efficient. Today, these compounds are already indispensable additives in the chemical industry and have been
September 22, 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
Biofuture Launches Clean Energy Ministerial Initiative to Accelerate Bioenergy in Energy Transition
(BioFuture Platform) In a high-level launch event, government representatives, the International Energy Agency and top industry leaders called for international collaboration and engagement with private sector to achieve global climate and energy transition goals -- The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) high-level
September 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Celtic Renewables Biorefinery Sparks Boost for Scotland’s Green Economic Recovery
(Celtic Renewables) The first sign that the Scottish economy is on track for a green recovery became evident today as the construction of Scotland’s first biorefinery took a significant step forward with the arrival of six purpose-built 130,000 litre fermentation vessels
September 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Pivoting from Plants-to-Food to Plants-to-X – What’s the Future of Ag?
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Is it a battle of plants for food versus plants for biofuels, biochemicals, biobased products? What about fermentation? Will food made from fermentation be the end of agriculture as we know it? Will one be
September 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Engineered Pseudomonas putida Simultaneously Catabolizes Five Major Components of Corn Stover Lignocellulose: Glucose, Xylose, Arabinose, p-coumaric Acid, and Acetic Acid
by Joshua R.Elmore, Gara N.Dexter, DaviniaSalvachúa, MarykateO'Brien, Dawn M.Klingeman,KentGorday, Joshua K.Michener, Darren J.Peterson, Gregg T.Beckham, Adam M.Guss (Metabolic Engineering) Engineered P. putida to catabolize xylose and arabinose. Identified bottlenecks in xylose catabolism in P. putida and improved growth rate. Max sugar consumption rate in
September 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Meaty Innovations, 3D Printed Steak, Bioreactor for Cultured Meats, Honey-Coated COVID-19 Mask and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of September 17th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) It’s all about food and lots of steak this week as we look at the Top 8 Innovations including Faux pas-free foie gras firm nabbing a government grant in Japan to build a commercial bioreactor
September 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Evonik, Avril, POET Collaborations: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to DSM’s Evolution
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... DSM has certainly evolved with the times. Atul Thakrar, President of its Bio-based Products & Services, shared this illuminating presentation at ABLC Digital on their recent collaborations with companies like Evonik on sustainable salmon
September 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Japanese Producers Buck Weak Demand for Algae-Based Biofuel
(Nikkei Asian Review) Southeast Asian production rises while palm oil waste also takes the spotlight --- Japanese biofuel companies are expanding their production of fuel from sources such as algae and palm oil waste, despite the current lack of demand from
September 15, 2020 Read Full Article
Biobased Polymers, PEF and Propanediol: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Dupont’s Biomaterials
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From biobased propanediol for personal care products to polymers for apparel and packages, DuPont gets the value and advantages of biomaterials and is working with ADM to create breakthrough biomaterials too. Michael Saltzberg, Business Director at DuPont
September 15, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuture Platform Joins Clean Energy Ministerial to Create Powerful Change Agent and Ambitious Engine for the Global Bioeconomy --- September 16, 2020 --- ONLINE
by Gerard J. Ostheimer (Global Biofuture Solutions) On Wednesday September 16th the Biofuture Platform will become an initiative of the Clean Energy Ministerial. The 1-hour launch event is available to the public online and will be co-hosted by Brazilian Minister of Mines, Minerals, and Energy Bento Albuquerque and
September 15, 2020 Read Full Article
Report Quantifies Impact of the Minnesota Bioincentive Program
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The Bioeconomy Coalition of Minnesota has released the results of a new analysis that shows Minnesota’s Bioincentive Program is working to generate significant economic and job benefits for the state’s biobased industrial product companies. The Minnesota Bioincentive
September 11, 2020 Read Full Article
EECi Biorefinery Project almost 50% Complete
(The Nation/Thailand) The Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi) project is 45 per cent complete and will be ready for operation by June 2021, EECi director Jengrit Khanatharana, who is also the National Science and Technology Development Agency deputy director, said. The
September 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Lab-Cultured Yak and Kangaroo, Fungal Biomass Leather, Biobased Coatings, Brewery Waste and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of September 10th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Under development down under is lab-cultured yak, kangaroo meat, lion and tortoise, which apparently people eat, but now can do so without feeling guilty with the new cell-based meat replacements. Also saving the animals are
September 10, 2020 Read Full Article
12 Emerging Technologies: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to WBCSD’s Innovations to Transform 2020-2030
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The World Business Council for Sustainable Development just published an issue brief as part of a series of interim outputs linked to WBCSD’s current refresh of its Vision 2050. Here are highlights from the report, highlighting 5
September 08, 2020 Read Full Article
In COVID-19 World, Biobased Industries Key to Rebuilding a Strong, Sustainable Economy
by Matt Lipscomb (DMC Bio/Biofuels Digest) ... One of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the realization of the fragility of current global supply chains. As consumers and companies begin to value supply chain stability and robustness in addition
September 08, 2020 Read Full Article
CBBD Establishes a Cooperation with HCH to Offer an International Platform to Its Best Practices.
(Circular Biobased Delta) Maybe known, CBBD is a partnership of three Dutch provinces, companies and knowledge institutions within the southwestern Delta region. It aims to stimulate the use of more biobased/renewable raw materials in the transition to a sustainable, circular, biobased
September 08, 2020 Read Full Article
ESG Investing and the Bioeconomy – Part 2: Understanding ESG Investing Frameworks, Reporting, Stakeholders
by Cynthia Thyfault and Gerard J. Ostheimer (Global Biofuture Solutions/Biofuels Digest) ESG reporting seeks to create a standard way for a range of investors to understand a company’s (or a fund’s or an asset’s) financial and non-financial impacts, as well as the
September 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Expert View: The Future Is in Our Hands – Recognising the True Potential of Next Generation Carbon Capture Technology
by Gert-Jan Gruter (Avantium/BioMarket Insights) ... While CCS removes atmospheric CO2, it goes no further in creating a more sustainable way of life. To create a truly circular economy, we need to find a way to utilise these emissions as a
September 04, 2020 Read Full Article
SUNY ESF Receives USDA Grant: Biomass Products Will Reinvigorate Abandoned Land
(SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry) SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), as a member of a mid-Atlantic consortium, has received $630,000 over five years from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop biomass systems and
September 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Biodegradable Cellulose COVID-19 Antibody Test, Orange Peel Waste Recovers Precious Metals, Biobased Fabrics and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of September 3rd
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...(O)ne researcher in Mexico designed a biodegradable test for COVID-19 antibodies, made of cellulose that can biodegrade in the soil in less than 10 weeks, just like a banana peel. In China, researchers are using
September 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Fueling the Sustainable Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 2019 was a banner year for RSB that saw growing recognition of RSB’s leadership in the circular and bio-based economy, as well as engagement of new sectors and overall expansion of their global footprint. Check out their
September 01, 2020 Read Full Article
The Rocket’s Glare: Impossible Foods, Moderna, Phillips Are Three Strands of a Single, Driving Braid of Opportunity
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... One of the most astute observers on the energy scene, Tammy Klein, wrote earlier this summer: There has been a high degree of focus by policymakers, the media, NGOs and others on technologies such as
September 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Climate Plan Addresses Potential of Biofuels, Bioenergy
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Senate Democrats Climate Committee released a new report on Aug. 25 that details how climate action by Congress can create new jobs and grow the U.S. economy. Biofuels and bioenergy are among the topics
August 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Follow the Rainbow! The Digest Interview: Dr. Chaudhari at Praj Industries on 2020 and What the Future Holds
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... The recent launch of Praj’s Bio-Prism platform comprises of renewable chemicals and materials (RCM) solutions and promises sustainability while reimagining nature. We are witnessing strong interest from various stakeholders and some of the
August 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Bloom Biorenewables Secure Funding to Prove Biomass Valorization at Pilot Scale.
by Luke Upton (BioMarket Insights) ... Bloom’s ( @BloomBiorenewa1 ) patented mild lignin extraction method uses stabilizing molecules that prevent lignin (a major fraction in plants) from condensing during extraction. The company will use its latest investment to prove its technology on
August 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest Published Library of Recorded Presentations on Multitude of Bioeconomy Topics
(Biofuels Digest) Recorded presentations for your on-demand review and enjoyment. Just Pick and Click! On BioChannelTV RENEWABLE DIESEL & DME Saola Energy - Adam Belyamani Axens- David Schwalje Oberon - Rebecca Boudreaux Honeywell UOP-Dan Szeezil NextChem-Valerio Coppini Velocys - Jeff McDaniel ENGINE TECH What if everything with a
August 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Flax Fiber Seats for Race Car, Shrimp Shell and Coffee Ground Leather, Checkerspot Raises $36M and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of August 27th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) The race for biobased innovations is on! But first, take a seat like Formula One racing major McLaren is doing – on lightweight flax fiber composite seats which provide the requisite strength and low
August 27, 2020 Read Full Article
ESG Investing and the Bioeconomy: Part 1 – Impact and ESG Investing Through the Financier’s Eyes
by Cynthia Thyfault and Gerard J. Ostheimer (Global Biofuture Solutions/Biofuels Digest) Due to a wide range of global challenges including climate change, environmental sustainability, social inequality, and the need for ethical corporate governance, ESG investing and reporting has become the “new
August 26, 2020 Read Full Article
Follow the Money: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Industrial Bioeconomy Revolution
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Will Canada transform? Or stand on the sidelines?That’s the question asked by Jeff Passmore, CEO of Passmore Group who shared this illuminating “Follow the Money” slide guide that asks how tenable is fossil fuel’s future?
August 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Innovative CO2 Recycling for Liquid Detergent and Cleaning Products
(Mibelle Group) The Mibelle Group uses novel technology to obtain alcohol from CO2. -- The Mibelle Group has recently started to use alcohol (ethanol) obtained directly from exhaust gases, which would otherwise pollute the environment and damage the climate, in its
August 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Crabs curbing COVID, 3D printed biopolymers, fermentation-based production for cannabinoids and more: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the week of August 21st
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) We’ve seen the disposable face masks tossed on the floor, but what if they were biodegradable and non-toxic? That’s what one Bangladeshi scientist is tackling with mask material developed from cellulose extracted from jute fiber
August 21, 2020 Read Full Article
From New Zealand to the World - The Bio-Logical (International) Approach to Making Wood Based Chemicals a Market Reality. --- February 10, 2021 --- ONLINE
Aligning the supply and value chain is one of the greatest challenge towards developing new materials, technology and construction of a biorefinery. In this webinar Futurity will talk through their unique approach to collaboration and demonstrate the importance of bringing
August 21, 2020 Read Full Article
#Trending: Chemical Recycling of Plastics – The Missing Link in the Puzzle to Enhance Plastics Circularity
by Sreeparna Das (BioMarket Insights) ... The collection & sorting of plastics waste is quite far from being at the required level. And, the recycled grades often don’t stand a chance against their low-cost virgin counterparts because of certain technical limitations,
August 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Democrats Turn to Rural Issues: Rural, Midwest Democrats Promote Infrastructure and Divergent Strategy From Trump Years
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) Democratic leaders put a heavy emphasis on rural broadband and health care while criticizing the Trump administration and President Trump directly on trade, biofuels, climate change and the pandemic response. A western Pennsylvania soybean and hay
August 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Parsing the Climate Message
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Night 3 of the Democratic National Convention featured a lengthy 11-minute take on Joe Biden's climate and clean energy strategy that hammered home some of his big themes rather than the wonky details (which you
August 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Scaling Up 2020 Virtual LIVE: Harnessing Bio-Based Resources for a Low Carbon Economy --- Tuesdays September 8-October 27, 2020 --- ONLINE Free
Scaling Up 2020, Canada’s 5th annual international industrial bioeconomy business conference, will be Virtual this year. During the months of September and October, we will host a series of eight one-hour webinars featuring some of the globe’s leading speakers in the
August 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Biogenic Emissions: Credit Where It’s Due
by Luke Geiver (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The push to alter biogenic emissions regulations could boost corn farming and ethanol production while cementing the role of biobased solutions in the fight against climate change. Political inertia, however, remains the primary barrier
August 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Earnings Season – 5 Companies Remain Strong in Wild 2020
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) 2020 is a doozy for many biofuel and bioeconomy companies but here are 5 companies – several that were voted for The Digest’s Hot 50 companies – that are taking 2020 by the reins and
August 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Mustard Family Member Seen as Biofuel Source
(Canton Daily Ledger/US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service) Lesquerella (a.k.a. Fendler’s bladderpod and Yellow Top) is a member of the mustard family that’s native to the U.S. Southwest. But Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists are now eyeing it as a
August 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Cannabinoid Cups, Pineapple Leaf Drone Frames, Chipotle’s Avocado Waste for Clothing, Lab-Grown Bacon Taste Testers, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of August 14th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Imagine sitting on the beach with a bioplastic cup with micro-encapsulated, water soluble cannabinoids printed on the cups so the actives and flavors are released when it comes in contact with water, soda, or other
August 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuture Platform Launches Five Principles for Post-COVID Bioeconomy Recovery and Acceleration
(Biofuture Platform) Principles have been designed to help economies create jobs in a sector severely hit by the crisis -- The Biofuture Platform, a twenty-country, multi-stakeholder initiative, announced today the launch of a set of voluntary principles. These are intended to
August 12, 2020 Read Full Article
Frontiers in the Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Praj’s Bio-Mobility, 2G Ethanol & Renewable Chem
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC Digital in July, Pramod Kumbhar, President and CTO at Praj Matrix’s R&D Center shared this illuminating slide guide on their Bio-Mobility platform, enfinity – Praj’s 2G ethanol technology, their latest work in marine
August 11, 2020 Read Full Article
Tomorrow Arriving Today: 5 Technology Platforms to Watch for the 2020s that Are Materially Advancing Now, Despite COVID-19
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... New research shows sustainability has moved from a fringe preference into a core imperative across American life. According to a new survey from clean manufacturing leader Genomatica, 56% of Americans want brands and government to prioritize
August 11, 2020 Read Full Article
The Inside Track on Futurity, the New Zealand Biorefinery Pioneers with a Fresh Approach to Extracting New Value from Pine.
by Luke Upton (Biomarket Insights) ... We recently caught up with two of Futurity’s founders, CEO Jacob Kohn and CTO Dr. Gaetano Dedual who are on the cusp of some major breakthroughs in their goal to establish a first-of-its-kind commercial biorefinery in Tairāwhiti Gisborne, on
August 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Squid Self-Repairing Design Inspires U.S. Military, Microflora-Based Vegan Ice Cream, Dairy-Waste to Hand Sanitizer, Banana Fiber PPE, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of August 6th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) While taking a dip in the ocean, take a good look at that squid in a different light…researchers at the US Army Research Institute are developing a renewable, self-healing material inspired by squid teeth in
August 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Announces $97 Million for Bioenergy Research and Development
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than $97 million in funding for 33 projects that will support high-impact technology research and development to accelerate the bioeconomy. These projects will improve the performance and lower
July 31, 2020 Read Full Article
“B-Corp” Certification for Novamont, Making It Also a "Benefit Corporation”
(Novamont) Novamont’s commitment to be a force for global regeneration with higher purposes than mere profit was strengthened today by being awarded the ‘B Corp’ Certification. The Italian bioplastic manufacturer has joined 3,423 companies spanning 150 industries in 71 countries
July 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Carbon-Optimized Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to ARPA-E’s Carbon Programs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Carbon is the talk of the town, but what’s the difference between a low-carbon economy and a renewable “new” carbon economy? What’s the role of carbon management in the bioeconomy? What is carbon optimized bioconversion? David Babson,
July 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Algae Biomass Production for the Bioeconomy
(EU Science Hub) The latest brief prepared by the JRC for the European Commission’s Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy (KCB) informs about algae biomass production in the EU and globally, and maps algae production units in Europe. It reports increasing production
July 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Praj and ARAI in Alliance to Drive Green Fuel Technologies for Transportation
(Praj Industries) Praj Industries (Praj) and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) have entered into MoU to jointly drive application development of advanced biofuels that will find usage in industry and transportation. Biofuels developed for the mobility sector will have
July 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Letter to the Advanced Bioeconomy: Advance off the Beach
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There was always going to be a point when the advanced bioeconomy reached the end of the “R&D years” and transitioned into “the years of deployment”, and if you read the Biden plan here or the latest pushback from
July 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Ethanol Leaders See Happy Days in the Future
by Nat Williams (Illinois Farmer Today) The ethanol industry has a long, complicated history. But supporters believe the best days are ahead. “Fuel ethanol was a thing as early as early as automobiles. Henry Ford made his automobiles to run on ethanol
July 27, 2020 Read Full Article
IBioIC Launches Bid to Increase Industrial Biotech Businesses by 100 in Three Years
(Insider.co.uk) Innovation body's Bioeconomy Cluster Builder aims to help firms unlock £8 million funding -- ... "We want to encourage companies, start-ups and spin-outs to look at value chains and other opportunities for the production of renewable biological resources, and their
July 24, 2020 Read Full Article
KFC’s 3D Bioprinted Chicken, Flax-Based Trucks and Motorcycles, Spoiled Milk Converted to Clothing, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of July 23rd
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) It’s a hungry week for renewable chemicals and materials at The Digest. From KFC’s 3D bioprinted chicken substitute to Beyond Meat’s expansion into Brazil, we can eat to our heart’s content while drinking up with
July 23, 2020 Read Full Article
"Just a Minute" Educational Series Presents Episode 2 about Making Chemicals from Waste CO2
(Advanced Biofuels USA) The second episode of "Just A Minute or So about Renewable Fuels" focuses on making chemicals from waste CO2 in a circular economy. Students, teachers, or anyone interested in renewables can see in a 3-minute slide presentation
July 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Recruiting Impact Investing to Grow the Bioeconomy
by Cynthia Thyfault and Gerard J. Ostheimer (Global Biofuture Solutions/Biofuels Digest) Impact investing is an exciting and rapidly growing industry powered by investors who are determined to generate social and environmental impact as well as financial returns. This is taking place all over
July 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Driving on Lignin from the Forest – It May Be Possible!
(Sekab) The companies Peab Asfalt and Sekab have reached a milestone by replacing a fraction of the oil-based bitumen with softwood lignin on a highly busy road area in Sweden. The progress has been made under the EU project Rewofuel. The Rewofuel
July 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Sustainable Projects and Operations: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to ABB’s Bioeconomy Projects
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ABB is making a world of difference with more sustainable use of resources and energy projects. What are their 2030 targets? How are they using pioneering tech and responsible operations to move the needle forward? How
July 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Microbes Pave Way for Green Flight
by Irini Angelidaki (Technical University of Denmark) ... “Soon bacteria, yeast, and fungi will become the factories that produce not only fuel, but also a wide range of chemicals, plastics, and even proteins,” says Professor Irini Angelidaki, DTU Environment. An important realization
July 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Algae’s State of Play: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to ABO’s Algae Industry Updates
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What companies are investing and working in algae today? What about algae’s biomass production? The big players and partner industries? Initiatives for growing the algae industry? How does the 2018 farm bill dramatically expand support for
July 16, 2020 Read Full Article
eEUBCE (European Biomass Conference and Exhibition) Highlights; Videos Available until September
5 July 2020 Opening Highlights The first ever entirely virtual edition of the European Biomass Conference and Exhibition started today with the opening session streamed online. This year’s theme of the EUBCE is the role of the bioeconomy in the post-pandemic
July 15, 2020 Read Full Article
On a Molecular Level: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Checkerspot’s Microbes to Products
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A company that designs materials at a molecular level by optimizing microbes to biomanufacture unique structural oils discovered in nature, but not previously accessible commercially, is what Checkerspot is all about. Check out their Slide Guide from
July 15, 2020 Read Full Article
New Publication – Novel Regional and Landscape-Based Approaches to Govern Sustainability of Bioenergy and Biomaterials Supply Chains
(IEA Bioenergy) Novel regional and landscape governance approaches aim at addressing complex sustainability challenges by enhancing commitment and collaboration between multiple stakeholders and sectors to achieve common goals for a more sustainable production at larger geographical scales and across sectors, regardless
July 14, 2020 Read Full Article
5 Ways to Reduce Costs in Integrated Biorefineries: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Enabling Lower-Cost Biofuels
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) just released a new report that outlines five specific, yet broadly applicable, areas of focus to reduce costs in an integrated biorefinery. This analysis builds upon ongoing R&D strategies to lower
July 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Praj Strides into the Next Frontier of Bioeconomy
(Praj) Speaking at a plenary session of Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference (ABLC) 2020 Digital that is underway, Dr. Pramod Chaudhari, Executive Chairman, announced Praj's foray into the global Renewable Chemicals and Materials (RCM) industry. ABLC 2020 Digital is an annual
July 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor at Day 2 of ABLC: 1325 Attendees, Sideline Chat of ABLC Digital
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Biogas, carbon, renewable diesel, biodiesel, methane, hydrogen, and many new markets, innovations, technologies, novel crops, and more were the talk of the day. On day 2 of ABLC Digital it was chock full of content from
July 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Explore a Collection of National Laboratory-Developed Models and Tools for Bioenergy Analysis.
(U.S. Department of Energy) This website provides researchers interested in bioenergy and bioeconomy analysis with an inventory of bioenergy and bioproducts models and tools, key information about each model, and an interactive display of relationships among models. This bioenergy models collection highlights
July 08, 2020 Read Full Article
Greening Your Beer with Brewery’s CO2 Eating Algae, Blockchain Tracing, Converting Brewery Waste into Detergents and More
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... In today’s Digest, how a brewery in Australia is utilizing algae that eats up CO2 and spits out oxygen, all the cool things you can make with beer and liquor production waste (going
July 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Spotlight on Feedstocks: Sustainable and Feasible Wood-Based Materials
by Katariina Torvinen (VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland)/BioMarket Insights) ... Over-consuming of fossil reserves, resource insufficiency and climate change require the renewal of the existing materials paradigm. Advanced and high added-value wood-based materials can play an important role in
July 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Bioenergy 2nd Edition Biomass to Biofuels and Waste to Energy Published by Academic Press
(Elsevier) Bioenergy: Biomass to Biofuels and Waste to Energy, 2nd Edition presents a complete overview of the bioenergy value chain, from feedstock to end products. It examines current and emerging feedstocks and advanced processes and technologies enabling the development of
June 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Save the Rainforests, Use Degraded Land AND Produce Fuel and Food? Soleá Looks at How Macaúba Could Solve Many Problems
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... Macaúba is known for its high productivity and adaptability to the most adverse climate conditions and even better, the fruit’s shell, pulp, endocarp, and almond can be converted into a range of food
June 29, 2020 Read Full Article
WEBINAR: Finance and Investments –What’s Right for You? --- July 22, 2020
Transforming the bioeconomy from “a niche to the norm” is a challenge that runs through our industry, whether its scale up, supply chains or customer behaviour, there many hurdles that need to be overcome to create a successful business. At
June 26, 2020 Read Full Article
BBI JU Promotes Its Bio-Based Project Achievements via Launch of New Publication
by Liz Gyekye (BioMarket Insights) ... BBI JU (Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking) has launched a new publication entitled ‘BBI JU: a high-impact initiative for green recovery of Europe’. The booklet highlights the environmental, socio-economic and technological impacts of the initiative supported
June 18, 2020 Read Full Article
15 Hot Tech Case Studies: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to The Digest’s #BetterWithBiology Top 15
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Everything’s better with biology, so here’s The Digest’s newly released Top 15 case studies of today’s hottest technology and new markets for traditional oil and gas refiners. What are our top picks? Spoiler Alert: The top 15
June 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Ubrabio’s Webinar Launch of the Biocoalition in Brazil
by Ana Flávia Silva Paiva and Isabela Almeida Rodrigues* (Federal University of Goias/ Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology for Studies on the United States/ Advanced Biofuels USA) The Webinar, “Integration between biofuels: strategies to overcome the crisis,” held on
June 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Pandemic? How New Technologies Add Resilience to Our Economy and 7 Wolfpack Experts Analyze the Options
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... A thread of hope appeared this week from the bioeconomy’s Wolfpack, seven due diligence experts hungry for value — Paul Bryan, Ron Cascone, David Dodds, Michele Rubino, Joel Stone and Steve Weiss. Let’s see how they
June 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Strategic Selection of RNG Refinement Systems
by Anu D. Vij and Mike Pawlowski (Ship & Shore Environmental/Biofuels Digest) There is increasing emphasis on Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) applications in today’s Green Economy. Technology is moving at a rapid pace for RNG. Refinement of streams from a variety
June 04, 2020 Read Full Article
More Dope, Rope, Soap: an Upward Slope in Camelina, Hemp, Cannabis, Soybeans for Food, Fuels, Feed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Benson Hill, Yield10 and Marrone Bio are in the news this week with advances in their crop technologies aimed at yield improvement and nutritional composition. Yield continues to be the motherlode when it comes to agricultural
June 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Tools for Students and Educators
(Department of Energy) Learn more about bioenergy, biofuels, and bioproducts -- OPERATION BioenergizeME is the Bioenergy Technologies Office’s (BETO’s) education and workforce development base camp for students, educators, and anyone seeking to better understand the opportunities, promises, and challenges of developing a
June 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Scientists Develop New Chemicals Process to Recycle Bioplastics
(BioMarket Insight) The UK-based scientists at the Universities of Birmingham and Bath have developed what they describe as a “faster, more efficient way” of recycling plant-based bioplastics. The team has shown how their chemical recycling method not only speeds up the process,
June 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Bioenergy: The Great Continuum
by Gerard J. Ostheimer and Douglas L. Faulkner (below50/“the Clean Tech Conservative”/Leatherstocking LLC/Biofuels Digest) ... (W)e would like to point out a number of anniversaries put biofuels and bio-based products into a deeper and provocative historical context: 85 years ago,
June 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Q&A on Cellulosic Ethanol with Clariant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DigestConnect hosted a wildly popular webinar in late April with Clariant’s Head of Business Line, Biofuels & Derivatives at Clariant but there were so many fantastic audience questions we didn’t to, that we decided to follow
May 28, 2020 Read Full Article
BBI JU Launches 22 Projects to Support Green Recovery of Europe
(Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking) Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking: a €3.7 billion partnership between the EU and the Bio-based Industries Consortium -- The Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) has signed grant agreements with the projects selected for funding under the 2019 Call for
May 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Senate Committee Passes Gardner Bills to Strengthen Cybersecurity and Bioeconomy
(Office of Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO)) Today (May 20, 2020) the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation passed S. 3712 and S. 3734, two bipartisan bills cosponsored by U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) and designed to strengthen our nation’s cybersecurity
May 22, 2020 Read Full Article
BD Zones and BDO Zones: Weaponizing Biomass to Support a Bio-Fueled Economic Recovery
by Jordan Solomon (Ecostrat Inc./Biofuels Digest) The US has over a billion tons of biomass which can be used as a key lever to drive economic recovery. USDA estimates that 3.4 million jobs and nearly $660 billion of economic benefits
May 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Ethiopian Sustainable Biofuel Future Scenario at a Glance
(Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) As part of the Fuelling the Sustainable Bioeconomy powered by Boeing’s Global Engagement Portfolio, RSB gathered a group of key stakeholders in the Ethiopian bioeconomy to examine and uncover strategies and scenarios for the future development of
May 19, 2020 Read Full Article
WEBINARS: DigestConnect --- various dates
(Biofuels Digest) DigestConnect is a weekly online get-together for the bioeconomy, featuring trendsetters and online commentary by real leaders on the real issues. DigestConnect #9 is here. Today we are joined by Joanne Ivancic with Advanced Biofuels USA, Graham Noyes of
May 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Fueling the Sustainable Bioeconomy – Updates from RSB’s Project with Boeing
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Switzerland, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials offered updates on their “Fueling the Sustainable Bioeconomy” project powered by Boeing’s Global Engagement Portfolio, including the latest activities in three countries identified to be of key importance given
May 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Greenprint for Biomanufacturing and Sustainable Supply Chains: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Biostrategy 2020 in a Post-COVID World
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As biology ravages the global economy, we have a once-in-a-lifetime, trillion-dollar opportunity to help shape how biology will also rebuild it, reports Synbiobeta. We can redefine the economy, supply chains, and manufacturing at local, state, national,
May 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Zounds, 40% More Algae! Leading Paradoxically to the Big Feedstock Problem
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A new technology that produces a doubling of overall biomass in algae and 40 percent in camelina has appeared on the horizon, and I’d like to draw your attention to this work in The Plant Journal and this
May 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Ag Groups Ask Congress to Address GHG Emissions from Annual Crops
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Biogenic CO2 Coalition sent a letter to Capitol Hill on May 11 asking lawmakers to direct the U.S. EPA to promptly publish a rule that states neither agricultural biomass nor woody biomass contribute to
May 12, 2020 Read Full Article
European Bioeconomy Alliance Position on the EU Green Deal
(The European Bioeconomy Alliance (EUBA)/Biofuels Digest) The ambitious European Commission strategy to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the EU and achieve climate neutrality by 2050 has recently been set in motion as the European Green Deal. The European Bioeconomy Alliance (EUBA),
May 12, 2020 Read Full Article
Decarbon8-US Debuts: New Philanthropic Impact Fund to Democratize, Spark Cleantech Investment
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There’s a new way to invest in decarbonizing transportation. This week, the Seattle-based angel investor community known as E8 launched Decarbon8-US, that could break down several barriers holding back the scale-up of cleantech, especially barriers faced by
May 12, 2020 Read Full Article
European Bioeconomy Alliance Position on the EU Green Deal
(The European Bioeconomy Alliance (EUBA)/Biofuels Digest) The ambitious European Commission strategy to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the EU and achieve climate neutrality by 2050 has recently been set in motion as the European Green Deal. The European Bioeconomy Alliance (EUBA),
May 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Sugar Producers Co-operative Shutting Down
by Josh Boyce (Blackburn News) The Cellulosic Sugar Producers Co-operative (CSPC) has announced that it’s ceasing operations to mitigate ongoing expenses and costs. The Ontario farmer-owned co-operative said it’s purchased back all investments made by farmers, including the membership shares. The co-operative was
May 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Earth Day 2020: 4 Green Shoots to Celebrate amongst the Devastation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As I write, the May contract for West Texas Intermediate is selling for -$40.21 a barrel, or a negative cost of $240 per tonne. Let’s put that in context, you can throw unmixed useless garbage into
April 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Getting Money to Survive and Thrive – Federal Programs and Resources Available to Support the Bioeconomy
by Bill Hagy (Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc./Biofuels Digest) A series of PowerPoint Presentations outlining key Federal Financial Programs and Assistance that are available to support the domestic bioeconomy have been provided. This was not intended to be an” all inclusive” listing of
April 21, 2020 Read Full Article
15 Newest Projects – Who’s Got What Underway?
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) While the world may be at a standstill,there are still many projects going on and moving forward. But where are these projects? Who’s involved? How far along are they? What are they working on? From
April 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Coronavirus Disrupts CO2 Supplies
by Pan Demetrakakes (Food Processing) One of the more obscure effects of the coronacrisis is starting to worry American meat processors: a lack of industrial carbon dioxide. CO2 is used in several ways in meat processing: as a gas to stun birds
April 14, 2020 Read Full Article
From Concept to Commercial Operation: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to How to Successfully Commercialize Novel Proteins
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) “There is no substitute for a fully integrated pilot process,” said Mark Warner in this illuminating presentation on how to get from concept to commercialization for novel proteins. But what are the economic implications of
April 14, 2020 Read Full Article
From Weeds to Wealth – Researchers Discover Simple Method to Make Valuable Levulinic Acid and Cement Additive from Hemp Waste
by Noppadon Sathitsuksanoh (University of Louisville/Biofuels Diges) In Kentucky, Louisville scientists add value to solid wastes from the hemp product industry. Their research exploits a simple process that transforms the waste into levulinic acid, a valuable chemical and a cement
April 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Making Biofuels Cheaper by Putting Plants to Work
(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Biofuels are an important part of the broader strategy to replace petroleum-based gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels that we use today. However, biofuels have so far not reached cost parity with conventional petroleum fuels. One strategy to make
April 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Agriculture and Bioeconomy: EIB Approves €700 Million of Financing under the Investment Plan for Europe Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
(European Investment Bank) Financing is guaranteed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) and will help make the sector more resilient in light of Covid-19; New financing targets investments by private cooperatives and companies in the agriculture and bioeconomy sector;
April 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Reporters’ Notebook: The 10 Most Overlooked Bioeconomy Stories of the Week
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Amidst a tsunami of wall-to-wall ‘Rona coverage, a series of storylines have been lost in the shuffle that will have impacts near and wide-ranging for the bioeconomy, some of them relating directly to testing, scale-up
April 03, 2020 Read Full Article
The Competitive Edge: Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB)
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) was founded in 2007 by a small group of leading organisations from civil society, industry and academia with a mission of promoting the global sustainable production, conversion and use
April 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Bioeconomy: State of the Industry 2020
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The crises, the macro drivers and the emerging trends abound. Ethanol vs Gasoline, Drop-ins vs Novel, Chemicals vs Materials, Food vs Feed, Mandates vs Low Carbon Fuel Standards, Digital Biology vs Artisans, Gas vs Liquid
April 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Bio-Based Chemicals: A 2020 Update
Ed de Jong, Heinz Stichnothe, Geoff Bell and Henning Jørgensen (EIA Bioenergy) Since the first issue of the IEA Bioenergy Task 42 report on bio-based chemicals in 2011, the importance of a circular economy has become evident. In the transition to
April 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Action Needed – 37 “Industry-Critical” Federal Programs Have Been Proposed for Severe Cuts or Elimination in the President’s Fiscal Year 2021 Federal Budget
by C.J. Evans (Alternative Fuels & Chemicals Coalition/American Diversified Energy/Biofuels Digest) The Alternative Fuels & Chemicals Coalition (AFCC) has been working on Capitol Hill for the past two months to advocate for FY2021 federal programs and funding that are of importance to the
March 31, 2020 Read Full Article
The Algae Foundation — Looking Back and Moving Forward
by Ike Levine, Tiffany Cannis and Marissa Nalley (Algae Industry Magazine) In these turbulent times, when many educational programs are in limbo, we wondered what is happening to algae education? For a perspective, we asked leaders of the Algae Foundation
March 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Looking beyond the Headlines during COVID-19 Pandemic
by Gerard J. Ostheimer and Douglas L. Faulkner (below50/Leatherstocking LLC/Biofuels Digest) ... The 1 – 2 punch of the COVID-19 economic hit and the Saudi – Russian fight over oil markets have combined to collapse the price of oil. Low
March 26, 2020 Read Full Article
Maine Takes Significant Step in Addressing Climate Challenge Through Renewable Chemicals Tax Credit
(Biotechnology Innovation Organization) Maine is speeding up its transformation to a 21st-century, biobased economy with the passing of the Renewable Chemicals Tax Credit, which will foster the production of environmentally friendly innovations—like renewable chemicals and biobased products. “In order to address
March 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Biomass, Food and Ag, Small Business R&D: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Federal R&D Programs for Biofuels, Biochem
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There are several federal R&D programs out there supporting biofuels, biopower, biochemcials and biobased products. If you don’t know what they are, check out this slide guide from Bill Hagy at Lee Enterprises Consulting and
March 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Coronavirus Responses & Impacts Bioeconomy Survey Results – March 2020
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) During the week of March 16-20, 2020, The Digest surveyed its readers on how they were impacted by the Coronavirus health & economic crisis, and how they were responding. The bioeconomy’s pioneers are an optimistic bunch, and
March 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Where Are We? March 2020 Digest Data Dashboard, The Bioeconomy, By the Numbers
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The past few weeks have been a roller coaster ride and here are the numbers to visualize what is going on. In today's Digest, a graphic look at Dow Jones Industrials, biodiesel operating margins, ethanol operating margins,
March 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Securing U.S. Leadership in the Bioeconomy
(U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Science, Oceans, Fisheries, and Weather) The hearing examined the bioeconomy, the federal government’s role in the bioeconomy, and the potential risks from such research. Witnesses will also discuss the necessary
March 17, 2020 Read Full Article
DSM Announces Partnership With SABIC And UPM Biofuels To Create Bio-Based Dyneema®
(Textile World) ... UPM Biofuels produces bio-based feedstock UPM BioVerno from the residue of the pulping process. This is then processed by SABIC to make renewable ethylene under their TRUCIRCLE™ umbrella of solutions. TRUCIRCLE™ includes certified renewable products, specifically resins
March 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Middle East’s 1st Plant-Based Water Bottle, Biofoams Made from Seafood Waste, Mushrooms, Bamboo Diapers, Biobowls, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of March 12th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Abu Dhabi, food and beverage company Agthia Group PJSC is set to launch the Middle East’s first plant-based water bottle made from corn sugar with caps made from sugarcane, and can biodegrade within 80 days.
March 13, 2020 Read Full Article
From Tree to Money Faster and More Efficiently than Ever: Futurity to License MetGen’s Award-Winning METNIN™ Technology for Lignin Valorization
(MetGen) Futurity, whose mission is to outperform oil with trees through the production of advanced chemicals and materials from plantation forestry in New Zealand has finalized a licensing agreement with the Finnish company MetGen Oy. Cooperation will allow the development of
March 11, 2020 Read Full Article
USDA Rural Development, BioPreferred Program and More: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA’s Bioproducts to Market Efforts
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) USDA made a big announcement recently on targeting 30% biofuels by 2050, but did you know there are many ways they have been adding value to agricultural products to help the rural economy? Did you
March 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Seaweed-Lined To-Go Containers, Pepsi’s Molded Pulp 6-Pack Rings, Hydrogen-Powered Arctic Station, “Infinite” Toothbrush, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of March 5th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sit back and just imagine, hanging out at the new International Arctic Station that runs on solar, wind, and hydrogen power, sipping on a Pepsi 6-pack that came in molded pulp rings, eating lunch from a
March 06, 2020 Read Full Article
MIND THE GAP: Letter from Europe
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If you have not followed the Alternative and Renewable Fuels Forum, bookmark this, and today I’ll give you some of the flavor of this group with 110 members — project owners and developers, policy experts, technologists,
March 04, 2020 Read Full Article
GUEST ARTICLE: Lessons that Novel Proteins Should Learn from Biofuels
by Mark Warner (Warner Advisors LLC/Food Navigator) Can 60% of current meat consumption be replaced by novel vegan meat replacements and cultured meat in the next 20 years? That is what AT Kearney has recently projected, but the analysis does
March 03, 2020 Read Full Article
The Competitive Edge: AmericaBio
(AmericaBio/Biofuels Digest) ... Our company develops technologies for the deconstruction of forest and also agricultural biomass for sugars that are used for production of renewable fuels, typically ethanol, and higher value products such as Omega-3, SCP, xylo oligosaccharides (XOS), acetic
March 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Beans Grown with Urine and Martian Soil, New Cosmetic Ingredient Produced by Fermentation, Plant-Based Superglue, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of February 27th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What a weird week – yummy string beans fertilized with human urine in the form of struvite and cultivated using artificial Martian and lunar soil, making Marvin the Martian hungry for some beans. If that’s too
February 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Carolina Opportunity Funds Chooses BioEconomy Solutions
(Carolina Opportunity Funds/PR Newswire) Inaugural Investment for IMPACT Carolina QOZ Fund -- Carolina Opportunity Funds is pleased to announce that BioEconomy Solutions, a technology leader in sustainable agricultural crops for biofuels, animal feed, and food products such as Tiger Nut flour,