Bioeconomy News
EU-funded research collaboration for sustainable agriculture
The primary mission of the new EU-funded BiodivERsA project "STACCATO" is to advance the long-term sustainable development of land use systems against risks of global change.
TU Munich: million-euro grant for synthetic biology
The Technical University of Munich is expanding its activities in the area of synthetic biology in teaching and research. With a grant of €11.5 million, the Werner Siemens Foundation has kick-started the launch of the teaching and research domain Synthetic Biotechnology at the Technical University of Munich (TUM).
TUM opens central institute for catalysis research
Catalysts such as enzymes can stimulate chemical processes. They are also the key to transforming chemical substances in efficient and resource-saving ways. The sustainable potential of these helpful compounds for the global economy is huge.
Evonik turns to natural active ingredients in cosmetics
Specialty chemical manufacturer Evonik plans to increase its use of sustainably produced ingredients for cosmetics in the future.
Bioeconomy is a major driving force
The Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) announced the results of the first study on the European bioeconomy at its general assembly.
Monsanto has its sights set on Bayer’s agribusiness
Spurned by Swiss Syngenta earlier this year, Monsanto is still looking to expand. According to press reports, the US agribusiness giant is in talks with Bayer concerning the German company’s seed and crop protection business.
Bio-chem deals for BASF and Deinove
German chemicals giant BASF is negotiating with Dutch chemical technology company Avantium to launch a joint venture producing polymer building blocks from renewable resources.
Plant researchers say genome editing is not GMO
Since the discovery of the gene editing technique CRISPR/CAS9, the celebrated genetic “scissors” have become a staple of the genome editing toolbox, along with other methods such as TALENS and ZFNs.
Chemical building blocks made from chicory waste
Chicory is popular as a lettuce for its slightly bitter taste and can be eaten raw, baked, roasted or stuffed. Favoured for its yellowish-white creamy head of leaves, chicory is grown underground in the absence of sunlight to prevent the leaves turning green or opening up, with only the tips of the leaves showing above the surface.
Farming in space: Scientists develop multi-storey greenhouses
The residents of these high-rise buildings are not your usual inner city residents – tomatoes grow on the fifth floor, herbs and cucumbers on the third. This is how engineers from the German Center for Aerospace (DLR) in Bremen imagine agriculture of the future.
Brain AG sets share price at 9 euros per share
Hessen-based company Brain AG has almost made the jump from technology startup to listed company, in spite of recent turbulence on the stock market.
Batteries made from apple biowaste
Lithium-ion batteries are the energy source for many electronic devices. But the alkaline material is expensive and its extraction is damaging to the environment. A much more environment friendly and cost effective alternative, however, are sodium-ion batteries.
Bioeconomy has found its place at the Green Week
The International Green Week is once again in full swing. From 15th to 24th January the exhibition halls below the Berlin Radio Tower are dedicated to everything to do with agriculture, nutrition and horticulture.
Wheat genome to be completely sequenced by 2017
After rice, wheat and maize are the most important food crops worldwide. But climate change threatens the harvest and consequently the global food production for a growing world population.
Brain AG plans IPO on Frankfurt stock exchange
The Hessen town of Zwingenberg has been one of the main locations of German industrial biotechnology. Originally a technology start-up, today Brain AG has grown into a corporation of six companies with 240 employees.
Meat and bone meal as a source of phosphorus
Phosphate is not just a vital element for humans, in addition to nitrogen, the mineral is one of the most important plant nutrients. Since Germany does not have its own natural resources, the raw material has to be imported in large quantities from abroad where it is extracted from mines.
Growing stem cells on algae gel from Chile
Algae are a rich source of valuable substances, which are prized in both the pharma and cosmetic industries. But there’s a lot more than meets the eye with the microscopic organism: their supporting skeletal structure is made from a substance called alginate.
Tomatoes made into bio-factories for pharmaceuticals
Healthy nutrients are found in many fruits and vegetables, but vast quantities must be consumed to achieve an efficient dose of the natural compounds because they are often low-concentrated in plants.
Global agenda for sustainable bioeconomy adopted
At the Global Bioeconomy Summit in Berlin, about 700 participants from 82 nations set themselves the goal of increasing the involvement of the bioeconomy in sustainable development and the battle against climate change.