by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) “Think of the children” who won’t know that meat comes from life, not from labs, says the France ag minister who poo-poo’d cultivated meat, yet Israel’s prime minister championed cultivated meat calling it a “powerhouse”
bioproducts
Back TO HOME3D Bioprinted Mars Rover, Coffee Waste Face Masks, World’s First Approved Cell-Based Meat and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of December 11th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) If you are looking for a unique holiday gift, the European Space Agency just released the blueprint for at-home 3D printers to produce their own miniature Rosalind Franklin ExoMars rover at home using bioplastic. And
December 11, 2020 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Announces $35 Million for Bioenergy Research and Development DEADLINE: February 1, 2021
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $35 million in funding for bioenergy feedstock technologies and algae research and development. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) supports the White House priority for advancing the domestic
December 11, 2020 Read Full Article
Emissions-to-Feed Protein Production, Fermentation Animal-Free Cheese, Greener Medical Gloves, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of December 4th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) This week is filled with ‘Gouda ideas’ like San Francisco animal-free cheesemaker that uses precision fermentation to produce casein, a protein present in cow’s milk, or cell-based meat company that developed cultivated chicken mince that
December 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Use of Biofuels Needs to Increase: Gadkari | Special Edition of the Book "Ek Hota Carver" Published
(Praj) “The use of biofuels needs to be increased to reduce the strain caused by fossil fuel on our country's economy, and the growing pollution menace arising from it,” said Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways
December 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Liquid Forest™ – Södra’s Sustainable Biosolutions
(Södra) Swedish forest industry group Södra has launched Liquid Forest™, a pioneering range of bioproducts: biomethanol, tall oil and turpentine. The Liquid Forest™ brand is a concept that offers the market and customers an opportunity to choose climate-smart products derived from
November 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Neste RE Enables a Future Where All Plastic Products Can Be Made of Renewable and Recycled Materials – and the Future Starts Today
(Neste) Neste is launching a new product, Neste RE, a 100% renewable and recycled raw material for plastics and chemicals production. It is a product for tackling climate change through reducing the need to use virgin fossil resources, while it also
November 27, 2020 Read Full Article
An Attitude of Gratitude
by Douglas L. Faulkner (Leatherstocking/Biofuels Digest) ... In this time of mistrust, misunderstandings, cynicism and defeatism, we all should say out loud unabashedly and without hesitation all the blessings biofuels and biobased products have wrought. The world would certainly be a
November 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Cultured Human Steaks, Lab-Grown Lobster, Edible Bugs, Biodegradable Mannequins and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of November 27th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) As if 2020 wasn’t crazy enough, this week’s innovations include lab-grown lobster, renewable and biodegradable store mannequins, edible bug grants for companies looking to develop insect-based foods, and even a Hannibal Lecter inspired “have people
November 27, 2020 Read Full Article
The TIPping Point: Technology, Investment, Policy, and the advanced bioeconomy, Dioxide Materials, Genomatica, ADM, InnovaFeed, Aemetis, Nova Pangaea, and the UK Are Showing the Way
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s possible to summarize the advanced bioeconomy in three words, technology, investment, policy. These are the sine qua non, the foundational forces. Technology without investment and policy is a bunch of pretty things on a shelf,
November 25, 2020 Read Full Article
Coaxing Crops to Create Animal Proteins, Cucumber Peels for Food Packaging Polymers, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of November 20th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Cucumber peels converted into cellulose nanocrystals with potential to be used in food packaging, bamboo and sugar waste tableware that biodegrades in 60 days, a new pen design with edible ink and compostable materials, coaxing
November 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Sustainable Chemicals and Polymers: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to RSB
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials may have started in biofuels, but their latest work to transform the chemicals and polymers industry by ensuring sustainability is of note and goes across the supply chain. For example, RSB-certified bio-naphtha
November 19, 2020 Read Full Article
The NEXT 50 Companies to Disrupt the World* (*in a really great way) for 2020
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, The Digest announced the NEXT 50, “the 50 Next Companies to Disrupt the World”, for 2020. The NEXT 50 are companies whose emerging technology promises to disrupt markets (or is already doing so) and
November 19, 2020 Read Full Article
U.S. Department of Energy Releases SBIR and STTR Funding Opportunities
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science announced a funding opportunity under its SBIR and STTR programs. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are highly
November 18, 2020 Read Full Article
3D Meat Bioprinter Commercialization, Lab-Grown Chicken, Algae-Based Skis, Biobased Car, Bioluminescent Wood, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of November 12th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Maybe it’s because Thanksgiving is right around the corner, but this week’s innovations are heavy on food with a protein innovation contest crowning MycoTechnology for their mushroom-based protein production, a whopping $7 million raised for
November 12, 2020 Read Full Article
“The Time Is Right Now”, Sekab Announce Green Tech Investment Plans, Including a Production Plant for Chemicals and Biofuels.
by Luke Upton (BioMarket Insights) Bold news this week from Sekab, the Swedish chemical and cleantech company, who are responding to increasing demand for green chemicals and a growing focus on the impact on climate change by a major green tech
November 12, 2020 Read Full Article
Microbe 'Rewiring' Technique Promises a Boom in Biomanufacturing
(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/Phys.Org) Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have achieved unprecedented success in modifying a microbe to efficiently produce a compound of interest using a computational model and CRISPR-based gene editing. Their approach could dramatically speed up the
November 11, 2020 Read Full Article
Coca-Cola Paper Bottle, Pampers Biodiapers, Twist Bioscience’s DNA Art Launching to Space, Bioplastic PPE, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of November 5th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Big news from big companies this week with mega-brand Coca-Cola revealing an initial prototype for a paper bottle it hopes can be recycled with household paper recycling streams, Pampers diaper-brand’s new Pampers Pure line features
November 05, 2020 Read Full Article
Movements at Ginkgo BioWorks, Pacific Ethanol, Lygos, LanzaTech Show Where the Bioeconomy Is Heading
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) So many re-naming and brand extension efforts are underway this week, let’s look at those to see what’s working, what’s popular, when it comes to building trusted brands. ... The Re-Branding: Pacific Ethanol This past week we
November 04, 2020 Read Full Article
CABBI Researchers Collaborate on Oilcane Pilot Project
by Jenna Kurtzweil (Brookhaven National Laboratory/Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation) From southeastern Florida to northern Mississippi to the Midwestern Corn Belt, CABBI scientists have struck sustainable oil with sugarcane. But the crop’s potential value to the renewable energy
November 03, 2020 Read Full Article
8 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
Cellulosic Ethanol: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Clariant Chemtex Approach
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Two world leaders in cellulosic deployment – Jeff Taylor from Chemtex and Paolo Corvo from Clariant – talked about how cellulosic fuels are on the march on last week’s DigestConnect. Check out this exclusive slide
October 26, 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
Stora Enso Honored with Biorenewable Deployment Consortium’s Forest Products Innovation Award
(Biorenewable Deployment Consortium) Stora Enso was honored with Biorenewable Deployment Consortium (BDC)’s 2020 Forest Products Innovation Award for their culture of innovation and leadership in the deployment of new sustainable biorenewable processes directed toward achieving the full value of trees. The
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Scientists from Russia and Germany to Develop New Biotechnology Using Algae
(Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University/EurekAlert!) Project to create a resource and CO2-neutral energy closed-loop technology from microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana and duckweed Lemna minor. -- Researchers of Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University(SPbPU) in collaboration with Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) completed an international joint
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
Researchers Find Way to Improve the Production of Renewable Biofuels and Bioproducts
by Liz Gyekye (BioMarket Insights) Researchers at the US-based Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have used neutron scattering and supercomputing to better understand how an organic solvent and water work together to break down plant biomass, creating a
July 09, 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
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
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
Bioproducts Promise Better Biofuel Economics
(Chemical Processing) Biofuels cost-competitive with fossil fuels would result if crops produce a valuable chemical that can be recovered economically, note researchers at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), Berkeley, Calif. The researchers now have determined exactly how
May 27, 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
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
Competitive Edge: HelioBioSys, Inc.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We formed HelioBioSys to reduce the carbon footprint of fuels and other biomaterials. We initially targeted ethanol production via a genetically modified cyanobacterium but realized this process was not commercially viable. We then developed and patented
May 08, 2020 Read Full Article
De-risking Capital Market Investment in Biomass
(Ecostrat) The Biomass Supply Chain Risk Standards are a step-change advancement in the state-of-the-science for assessing biomass feedstock risk. They de-risk capital market investment in biofuels, biopower, biochemicals and bioproducts. The Standards enable capital to better structure around feedstock risk. With
April 23, 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
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
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
Pre-Commercial Programs Supporting Biofuels, Biopower, Biochem: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Federal Programs Supporting Demonstration of Concept
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last week we shared the latest federal programs in the R&D space and this week we focus on the federal pre-commercial programs supporting biofuels, biopower, biochemcials and biobased products. Check out this slide guide from
March 31, 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
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
ANDRITZ Successfully Starts up the World’s First Fossil-Free Biomethanol Plant at Södra, Sweden
(ANDRITZ) International technology group ANDRITZ has recently started up the world’s first biomethanol plant using ANDRITZ’s self-developed A-Recovery+ concept at the Södra Cell Mönsterås pulp mill in southeastern Sweden. The plant has an annual production capacity of 6.3 million liters of biomethanol
March 25, 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
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
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
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
7 New Changes in USDA Biorefinery Funding Opportunities – Now is the Time to Take Advantage
by Cynthia Thyfault (Global Biofuture Solutions) The USDA Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program, also known as the “9003” program, provides loan guarantees up to $250 million to assist in the development, construction, and retrofitting of commercial scale
February 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Death Shrouds for Mars Burial (No Joke), Algae Skis, Bacteria-Built House, Biobased Food packaging, Coca-Cola, Absolut Go Paper, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of February 12th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We all will die eventually, but one burial-garment designer and one bioengineer are thinking of future human burials on Mars with a new death garment made of four 100% biodegradable layers from silk and they plan
February 13, 2020 Read Full Article
2020 Bioeconomy M&A Deal Review & Outlook
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Digest published today a 2020 Deal Review and Outlook Bioeconomy M&A visual guide that looks at the slurry of recent mergers and acquisitions in the bioeconomy like Lygos and Librede, NuSeed and Agrisoma, FinCo Fuels
February 05, 2020 Read Full Article
The Versatile Ethanol Molecule: Ethylene, with a Similar Molecular Structure to that of Ethanol, Has Enormous Market Opportunity around the World.
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Knock a water molecule off ethanol and you’ll get ethylene, C2H4—the most widely produced organic chemical globally that is the basis for scores of other chemicals and hundreds (maybe thousands) of products, from
January 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Mattel’s Biobased Building Blocks, World’s 1st Fuel-Cell Powered Train, Self-Healing “Frankenstein” Concrete, Potato Starch Produce Packaging, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of January 30th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From big companies like Mattel and their first building block sets made from bioplastics, to smaller innovators and entrepreneurs, the bioeconomy had a busy week with innovations. A new plant-based faux fur that incorporates SORONA, a
January 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Panel Discusses Benefits of Biofuels over Petroleum
by Rachel Clark (Badger Herald) Biofuels used in industry have shown promising signs of advancement in bioproducts --The Wisconsin Energy Institute held a panel to discuss the viability of biofuels and bioproducts as replacements to other, more harmful types of
January 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Announces nearly $100 Million for Bioenergy Technologies Research
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced an investment of nearly $100 million in funding for research and development of bioenergy technologies. Issued on behalf of DOE’s Bioenergy Technology Office, topic areas within the FY20 Bioenergy Technologies Multi-Topic
January 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Living Robots, Fungus Homes, Biobased Aquaculture Ropes, Biopolymer Food Films, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of January 23rd
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It was a week of lots of deal-making, like edible straw startup Loliware’s raising of $5.9 million to scale production, and deal-breaking, like Itaconix and Nouryon’s break-up over biobased chelating agents for detergent applications. But it was
January 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Packing Peanuts from Sunflower Stem Pith, Biobased Packaging Tape, Wheat-Based ‘Turtle Straws’, Bioluminescent Glow Sticks, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of January 9th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As you clean up the post-holiday mess, you might find those annoying packaging peanuts all over your home or office…but three teens have developed an alternative to packing peanuts made from sunflower stem pith! And while
January 09, 2020 Read Full Article
10 Reasons Why Algae Are Interesting: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Non-Isocyanate Polyurethanes for Carbon Capture Reuse and Sequestration
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Algae is a wondrous thing…and here are 10 reasons why. But that’s not all! What about polyurethanes? Fully renewable polyurethanes from unsaturated lipids and protein-derived amine cross linkers? Check out this Slide-Guide from NREL’s Philip Pienkos
January 08, 2020 Read Full Article
World’s 1st Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Powered Yacht, Hemp Airplane, Rock Snot to Biomaterials, Sisal-Based Thermal Insulation, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of January 3rd
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The bioeconomy is kickstarting 2020 with a flurry of innovations, like a millennial entrepreneur who developed a method to convert invasive toxic algae commonly called “rock snot” into various materials including paper, fabric and bioplastic. Another
January 03, 2020 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 10 Top Advanced Bioeconomy Markets & Predictions for 2020
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we sail into 2020? Not the good ship Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and offer our predictions for the year ahead. As the sunset of 2019 gives
January 02, 2020 Read Full Article
New BioHub for Europe’s Forestry Capital
(EFI) EFI, Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE) and University of Eastern Finland (UEF) are joining forces to create an International Bioeconomy Knowledge Hub (BioHub) in Joensuu. The three organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding earlier this month. “We need to significantly increase
December 20, 2019 Read Full Article
LEGO Bioplastic Bricks, Castor Bean Coats, World’s First Hydrogen Powered Ferry and Carrier Ship, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of December 20th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For some, it’s holiday shopping season and now LEGO’s first bioplastic block set is an option! The kit—appropriately designed to make a treehouse—uses sugarcane-based polyethylene. Another great gift Top 10 Innovation from this week is French
December 20, 2019 Read Full Article
We Three Kings of the Bioeconomy Are: Novozymes & Green Plains, Arzeda & BP, and Inscripta & What Appears to Be the Entire Investing Universe Announce Massive Deals to Anchor a Big Bioeconomy Christmas
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Novozymes & Green Plains, Arzeda & BP, and Inscripta & a bunch of investors new and returning — three transformative market shifts this week of epic proportion. Grabbing the dollar headlines has to be Inscripta’s eye-watering $125
December 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Water-Based Tech Converts Biomass into Food Ingredients – Renmatix and Cargill Sign Joint Development Agreement
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Functional food ingredients from unused plant materials is just what Renmatix and Cargill are aiming to explore with their new joint development agreement, but what makes this breaking news even more fascinating is that Renmatix
December 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Corpse to Compost, Jose Cuervo’s Agave to Straws, Ford’s Coffee Waste Parts, Reebok Biokicks, Cellulose Optical Fibers, Catalysts Algorithms, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of December 12th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From Jose Cuervo’s new project to convert agave byproduct into biodegradable straws to death (corpse to compost), this week’s Top 10 Innovations are a hoot to boot. Car maker Ford is using McDonald’s coffee waste in
December 12, 2019 Read Full Article
Global Biogas Industry Leaders Call on Governments around the World to Unlock the Full Potential of Biogas in Addressing the Climate Emergency
(World Biogas Association) -If all barriers were removed, the biogas industry could abate up to 4bn tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually, representing at least 12% of today’s global emissions, by 2030. -Today only 2% of the feedstock available globally to
December 11, 2019 Read Full Article
A Plastics Dichotomy – Durables versus Single Use
by Ronald Cascone (Nexant, Inc./Biofuels Digest) ... Durable items are those that are in use for a long time, even years, mostly are rigid, have substantial weight per item, generally are not littered, are typically of more expensive performance polymers
December 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Five Major Trends in Biobased Renewables
(Biorenewable Deployment Consortium) The Biorenewable Deployment Consortium tracks global developments in the biobased Industries. Several key trends have emerged over the last decade: 1. The development of biobased products will vary widely by region on a worldwide basis, and national policy
December 09, 2019 Read Full Article
Emissions from Production of Plastics Deserves Same Scrutiny as End-of-Life Debate, Says Expert.
by Liz Gyekye (BioMarket Insights) ... Biome Bioplastics CEO Paul Mines said that the discussion around plastics isn’t solely about its end of life but its start of life. He also said that the production of oil-based plastics was hugely carbon
December 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Compostable Coffee Capsules, Banana Waste Bioplastic, Cocoa Husk Chocolate Wrappers, Cactus Leather, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of December 4th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The holiday season is in full gear for some and this means coming up with gifts for family and friends. For The Digest readers this week, there is no dearth of biobased alternatives to consider like
December 04, 2019 Read Full Article
Man-Made Bacteria that EATS Carbon Dioxide and turns it into eco-friendly biofuels could help tackle climate change, scientists claim
by Milly Vincent (Daily Mail) Escherichia coli bacteria have been engineered by scientists to consume CO2; Scientists removed some genes added one for an enzyme that converts CO2; The bacteria feed off carbon dioxide instead of sugar to produce biofuels
November 29, 2019 Read Full Article
New PHA Pathway, Stroodles Noodle Straws, Bamboo Poutine, Seaweed Bioplastic, Rice Husk Travel Mugs and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of November 28th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... It’s Thanksgiving in the U.S. today and many are gathering around the table, chatting about the latest news, like the new Air Protein – air-based food – and whether it will be served alongside…or
November 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Exclusive Expert Insights from Day One and Day Two of SynBio Markets 2019.
by Liz Gyekye (BioMarket Insights) ... Another era has started today with the launch of Bio Market Insight’s first SynBio Markets conference, which has kicked off with a bang. Set in the quirky ewerk location in Berlin, Germany, industry heavyweights have taken part in keynotes,
November 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Functional Fungus, Amyris’s Secret New Nutritional Ingredient, Bioplastics for Auto Applications, First-ever Hydrogen Powered Train and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of November 22nd
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Christmas decorations are showing up in all the stores already so The Digest figures it’s not too early to talk about the holidays…so forget about the coal powered Polar Express this winter, as the first-ever contract
November 22, 2019 Read Full Article
17 Trillion Pounds of Plastic – How Much Is Biodegradable?: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Algenesis’ Algae Polymers
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Science by Nature and Nature by Science is what it’s all about for Algenesis. Their goal is for 100% renewable, biodegradable, recyclable polyurethane that can be used for everything from flip flops to surfboards. Michael Burkart
November 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Hollywood Sends Materials to Anaerobic Digester, Poop to Paper, Hydrogen from Seawater, Kanye’s algae foam kicks, Hellman’s seaweedSsachets, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of November 15th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Even Hollywood is going green these days with the latest Bond movie sending 30 tons of food and biodegradable materials to anaerobic digester to generate electricity! And elephant poop is getting turned into upscale stationary paper.
November 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Cellulose Car, Fermentation for Fragrances, World’s 1st Solar Hydrogen Electrolysis Facility, Green Tea Leather Alternative, Hydrogen from CO2 and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of November 7th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Nature is an amazing thing. But add human brains and technology and you can get some pretty amazing things too – like a renewable insulating foam wetsuit to make your ocean outings even more in tune
November 07, 2019 Read Full Article
The Bioeconomy Initiative: Implementation Framework Published by Interagency Collaboration under the Biomass Research and Development Board
(Biomass Research and Development (BR&D) Board) Created through the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000, the Biomass Research and Development (BR&D) Board facilitates coordination among federal government agencies that affect the research and development of biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower. Since
November 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Biobased Polycarbonate Breakthrough, Seaweed Diapers, Bamboo Toothbrushes, One Cow’s Manure Can Power Toyota’s New Mirai Hydrogen Car and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of October 31st
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s Halloween and things are getting pretty scary out there with stinky, petroleum based, disposable, plastic diapers and plastic toothbrushes being discarded all over the world but have no fear, for a new seaweed-based reusable diaper
October 31, 2019 Read Full Article
As the Lab-Grown Meat Industry Grows, Scientists Debate if It Could Exacerbate Climate Change
by Emma Newberger (CNBC) Companies are moving quickly to bring to market meat products that are grown from animal cells in a lab. Similar to companies like Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger, cultured meat will replicate the taste and consistency
October 28, 2019 Read Full Article
Artificial Leaf, Renewable Fabric, Hydrogen Truck, Edible Tray, Plant Bags, Mushroom Textiles: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of October 24th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week we lead with an artificial leaf, which kinda sorta goes with plant-based shopping bags — seems as if we’re going one way, then the other, as The Pretenders once sang. Also in the news
October 24, 2019 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Breakthroughs at the Bioenergy Research Centers
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Over 10 years (2007–2017), three Bioenergy Research Centers produced multiple breakthroughs in the form of deepened understanding of sustainable biomass production practices, targeted re-engineering of biomass feedstocks, development of new methods for deconstructing feedstocks, and
October 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Trash to Treasure: Scientists Convert Municipal Waste to Biofuel Precursors
by Emily Scot (Berkeley Lab) As the need for energy security grows, scientists are investigating nonfood biomass sources that can be used to create valuable biofuels and bioproducts. Among these sources is municipal solid waste (MSW) — in other words, trash
October 10, 2019 Read Full Article
Face Fungus, Sustainable Camping Gear, Stationery Made from Stone, Renewable Naphtha, Hydrogen-Powered Tugboat: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of October 4th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) October has arrived with fall fashion, and amongst our offerings this week, the latest in face fungus, sustainable camping gear and apparel. For those looking for a sustainable statement, why not stationery made from stone.
October 04, 2019 Read Full Article
Call for Partners: Use or Invest in (Biobased) Polymerization Shared Facility
by Jim Lane and Marcel van Berkel (Biofuels Digest/Polymerization Shared Facility) Green Chemistry Campus, REWIN and Wageningen University are planning the development of the first multipurpose Polymerization Shared Facility Pilot Plant in Bergen op Zoom. In this facility new and redesigned
October 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Bio-Sourced Materials: A New Milestone!
(Michelin) The BioButterfly project launched by Michelin in 2012 has just achieved another milestone: the construction of France's first industrial demonstrator capable of producing butadiene from ethanol. The goal is to replace the oil-based raw materials used in the company's
September 27, 2019 Read Full Article
Fungus Fashion, BMW i Hydrogen NEXT Unveiled, Spider Silk and Cellulose Composite, Nestlé Opens Packaging Research Center, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of September 25th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) With Climate Week on many minds this week, it’s good to see innovations being developed to take a step in a better direction. Take CPI Card Group which is launching credit cards made from waste plastic
September 25, 2019 Read Full Article
Increase Value, Reduce Costs: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Advanced Algal Systems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Advanced Algal Systems. Maybe you’ve heard of it but did you know that technologies are being developed as part of a DOE program to enable production of sustainable algal feedstocks that perform reliably in conversion processes
September 24, 2019 Read Full Article
The NEXT 50 Companies to Disrupt the World
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, The Digest recognized the NEXT 50, “the 50 Next Companies to Disrupt the World”, bioeconomy companies that are just now reaching commercial scale with an emerging technology, or earlier in their journey to commercial
September 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Your Vegan Diet and Paper Straws Aren’t Going to Save the Planet, But These Three Policies Can
by John Cumbers (Forbes) When it comes to action on climate change, what’s good for the planet must also benefit the economy and the livelihoods of people, which are more often than not at the forefront of the minds of voters
September 23, 2019 Read Full Article
Increase Value, Reduce Costs: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Advanced Algal Systems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)Advanced Algal Systems. Maybe you’ve heard of it but did you know that technologies are being developed as part of a DOE program to enable production of sustainable algal feedstocks that perform reliably in conversion processes
September 20, 2019 Read Full Article
A Juicer that Turns Peels into Bioplastic Cups, Shellfish Plastic, White Dog Labs’ Feed Supplement, Eucalyptus Fiber and Wool Sneakers, Plant Starch Dog Toys, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of September 19th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It seems that plastic is in the news daily between bag bans, straw bans and even Ray-Bans. But there are companies out there tackling the plastic problem with alternatives like the new “Feel the Peel” juicer
September 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Replacing the Barrel: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Conversion Technologies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Developing efficient and economical biological and chemical technologies to convert biomass feedstocks into energy-dense liquid transportation fuels, such as renewable gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, as well as bioproducts, chemical intermediates, and biopower is the primary goal
September 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Friday Fun with Fungus: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Fungal Biotech for Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Noone knows fungus like these guys. A PNNL team has been developing fungal genetic engineering tools for industrially relevant fungi (filamentous and yeasts) and applying them to development of biofuel and bioproduct bioprocesses in stirred tank
September 13, 2019 Read Full Article
Warding off Armyworm, Wiping without Worry, Banana Fiber Sanitary Napkins, Mango Bioplastics, Wearable Fermentation-Based Protein Jacket and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of September 13th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Not only is it Friday the 13th, it’s also a full moon tonight. But don’t worry, this week’s Top 10 innovations will scare all the boogies away, starting with Provivi’s new fall armyworm pheromone now produced
September 13, 2019 Read Full Article
Lube It up with Sugar: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Lubricants from Cellulosic Sugar
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Petroleum based lubricants are everywhere, but Cargill is working on producing lubricants from cellulosic sugars instead. Utilizing a novel bioprocess that converts lignocellulosic hydrolysate sugars to caprylatemethyl ester, they are laying the foundation for this product
September 12, 2019 Read Full Article
Domtar Honored with Biorenewable Deployment Consortium’s Forest Products Innovation Award
(Biorenewable Deployment Consortium) The Biorenewable Deployment Consortium (BDC) honored Domtar with the organization’s inaugural 2019 Forest Products Innovation Award for their culture of innovation in the deployment of new biorenewable processes directed toward achieving the highest value from the tree. “BDC
September 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Biobased Battery, Starch-Based Gift Cards, Future Fashion, Plant-Based Flame Retardants, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of September 5th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week is a merry mix of biobased innovations around the world. From the creation of artificial reefs made from PLA in Israel and Spain’s starch-based gift cards to the U.S. where biobased battery materials are
September 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Zero-Emission Hydrogen Beer Trucks, Algae to Generate Clean Water, Cheesy Biogas, Algae Backpacks, Bamboo Toothbrushes, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of August 30th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Pumpkin spice everything is already appearing in stores across the U.S. and so is beer for Oktoberfest, but Anheuser-Busch’s beer will be delivered using zero-emission hydrogen beer trucks! Have some cheese with that beer as cheese
August 30, 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
How’s the Bioeconomy Doing?: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to 9 Bellwether Stocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Here’s The Digest’s very own condensed look at 9 bioeconomy companies –Amyris, Aemetis, Codexis, Gevo, Green Plains, Neste, Novozymes, Pacific Ethanol and Renewable Energy Group, in their own words and images. From their latest projects, expansions, accomplishments,
August 27, 2019 Read Full Article
Seaweed Underpants, Trump Straws, BASF Renewable Chelating Agents, CBD Extraction, Biometric IDs for Airlines, Upcycling Coffee Waste, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of August 9th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) SpongeBob SquarePants must be pretty darn excited today with Lidl’s announcement that they will soon sell seaweed-based underpants produced by Florida-based Nanonic. But that’s not all – with politics ramped up in the news comes “Trump
August 26, 2019 Read Full Article
All About Algae: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to DOE’s Advanced Algal Systems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Algae has a lot of recent federal support, and this presentation takes us there. The Advanced Algal Systems is working on a host of strategies to focus on enhacing productivity, feedstock, quality and robust yields
August 21, 2019 Read Full Article
Cellulose Microbeads, Sequins and Eyeware, 3D Printed Sandals and Menswear, Biobased adhesives, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of August 21st
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, it’s all about cellulose and 3D printing and these Top 10 Innovations are so cutting edge you can literally dress yourself from head to toe in it. From cellulose sequins and cellulose eyeware to
August 21, 2019 Read Full Article
DOE Seeks Information on Opportunities to Leverage Bioethanol Production Facilities, Food Waste Streams, High-Impact Data, and Algal Biomass to Advance the Domestic Bioeconomy --DE-FOA-0002150: FY 2019 BETO-WIDE RFI DEADLINE: September 6, 2019
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is requesting information on the following research opportunities to help inform its priorities and funding strategies: advanced processes and
August 13, 2019 Read Full Article
“I Am Not Charcoal.” – Sincerely, Biochar: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Biochar
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) On a recent Digest webinar, we heard all about biochar. The science. The markets. The technology. The results. The needs. And much more. If you missed The Digest’s webinar then check out the slides that cover
August 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Batteries from Trees, 3D Printing Developments, Canola Straw Cling Wrap, Biochar, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of August 2nd
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Can you really produce anode materials from trees? Stora Enso says absolutely yes! And they are investing a nice chunk of change to build a pilot plant for lignin-based battery materials. Ok, sounds great, but come
August 02, 2019 Read Full Article
Blazing Pathways through the Clean-Tech and Governmental Wilderness
by Douglas L. Faulkner (The Cleantech Conservative/Leatherstocking LLC/ Biofuels Digest) ... (W)e first addressed bio-based plastic research needs; second, we reviewed government regulations preventing the growth of advanced biofuels, a controversial action; then we launched an effort for 2019 for an intensive look
August 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Genera Repositions Itself, Gets $118M Investment – Movin’ on up to Get a Piece of the Pie
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... A $118 million pie in new investment money for this Tennessee-based biomass company. The financing was anchored by an equity investment from WindSail Capital Group, which partnered with investors Coppermine Capital and Stairway Capital
July 26, 2019 Read Full Article
Gin from Peas, Infinite Hoodie, Plant Shoe, Light and Heat Stabilizers for Agricultural Plastics, Slimy Sea Lettuce for biofuels, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of July 24th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gin being made from pea fermentation instead of wheat fermentation, slimy sea lettuce as a feedstock for biofuels, Icelandair is one of the first airlines to start using biodegradable single-use items, adidas and stella mccartney created
July 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Designer Proteins: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Arzeda
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Proteins are molecular machines that carry out the vast majority of functions within living things and Arzeda’s unique combination of computational protein design and state-of-the-art high-throughput screening is a radical change over what’s possible with traditional
July 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Surf’s up with Bioboards, Panasonic’s Biobased Appliances, CO2 Textile Fibers, Nestlé’s Biodegradable Snack Bar Wrapper, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of July 17th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Keep cool this summer with CO2 based textile fibers, biobased appliances, and surf the ocean waves on a biobased surfboard. But that’s not all because bioeconomy innovations are ripping and roaring! Here are the Top 10
July 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Paper Pen, Bioasphalt, Water Activated Bio Shampoo, Lignin Self-Healing Elastomer, Bio Crop Coating, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of July 10th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) While many are on vacation this time of year, the bioeconomy is not even close to taking a break. In fact, bioeconomy innovations, are like a beach goer in Florida this time of year – hot!
July 10, 2019 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor at the 2019 BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... (T)he bioeconomy’s biggest and grandest show, the BIO World Congress, takes us on an accustomed journey through the present and future in a sector that has more twists and turns than the rides at
July 10, 2019 Read Full Article
USDA to Amend Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement
(Bergeson & Campbell) The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Procurement and Property Management published a final rule on July 5, 2019, that will amend the Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement (Guidelines) to add 30 sections designating the product
July 09, 2019 Read Full Article
All About Algae: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to ABO
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Algae Biomass Organization advocates for algae-advancing policy and funding, serves as a hub for innovation and networking, and drives demand for “made with algae” products and services. Mark Allen, Chairperson of ABO, offers this enlightening overview of
July 09, 2019 Read Full Article
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