The Digest Turns 15: The 7 Top Trends, 10 Most Bizarre Stories, and 2 Mindsets, 3 Regrets, Many Blessings

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... We started the Digest on July 27, 2007 because it seemed to me, then as now, that the industry could use a good 5-minute round-up of what’s going on around the globe. ... Some 3,900 editions and 42,000 stories later, we’re humbled by the daily newsflow but determined to keep up with all your astonishing progress in science and as companies, for an audience of more than 5.6 million readers in 200 countries.

The 7 Top Trends of the Year

The 10 Most Bizarre Stories of the Year

Two minds, 3 regrets and a cornucopia of blessings

But we have more to be excited about than to be troubled about. Industrial biotechnology is offering new options that will transform the companies that use or make these products, the communities they operate in, and the markets they serve.

During the short life of the Digest, hundreds of companies have been formed and thousands of new bio-based products have come to market. Many companies will fail, just as railroads, automakers, computer makers and websites failed.

Billions of gallons in new capacity have been built. Sustainability of biofuel technologies old and new has been increased. Stability has improved.

It Takes a Village

It takes a village to make a Digest, as it turns out, and we are lucky to live in the virtual village we have. We are very grateful for all our sponsors, conference volunteers, guest columnists, event staff, and technology service providers.

We also have been blessed to have the help of Flavia Marples Lane (since Day 1) Bill Lundberg (since 2009), Paula Jackson (since 2016) to manage ABLC and assist our sponsors.

The Digest, Circular and ROBIN have been written and produced by Helena Tavares Kennedy (2016-2022), Isabel Lane (2010-2015), Rebecca Coons (2017-now), Lucas Santucci (2010-now), Tom Saidak (2011-2015), Joelle Brink (2009-12), Meghan Sapp (2011-now), Briana Sapp (2012-2014), Gary Scoggins (2016-2018), Juan Pedro Tomas (2022-now), Maia Taylor (2022-now) and Michael Theroux (2011). READ MORE