Press release - 04/11/2020 More local food supply or rather renouncement of consumption? Four agribusiness scenarios in 2035 show the future of food value creation - and how agriculture can help to shape it A new future study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI uses four different scenarios to provide insights into how natural resources could be used in agriculture in 2035 and what role digital decision support systems can play for farmers in this context.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/More-local-food-supply-or-rather-renouncement-of-consumption-Four-agribusiness-scenarios-in-2035-show-the-future-of-food-value-c
Press release - 30/10/2020 Seaweed as a Sustainable Source of Raw Materials EU research project with the participation of the University of Hohenheim searches for new, sustainable food additives and packaging materials from seaweeds and seagrasses.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/Seaweed-as-a-Sustainable-Source-of-Raw-Materials
Press release - 29/10/2020 Bioplastics successfully meet all EU safety standards Products made from bio-based plastics must undergo the same testing procedures as conventional plastic products to access the market of the European Union (EU). Thereby a health risk for consumers is excluded. Plastics intended to be certified as biodegradable or compostable must undergo additional tests.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/Bioplastics-successfully-meet-all-EU-safety-standards
Press release - 27/10/2020 Insects as efficient recyclers of biowaste In a review article recently published in the scientific journal Waste Management, ATB scientists outline the possibility of using insects to efficiently and sustainably recycle food waste. This insect-based bioconversion can help to close material cycles in the food value chain.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/insects-efficient-recyclers-biowaste
Funding European Circular Bioeconomy Fund Funding programme, Funded by: European Investment Bank (EIB), European countries/National Promotional Banks, Industry investors, Financial investorshttps://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/databases/funding/european-circular-bioeconomy-fund
Phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge - 21/10/2020 Bacteria help to recycle phosphorus Biotechnology for the bioeconomy: in something known as the P-bac process, sulphur bacteria extract phosphorus from sewage sludge ash. Phosphorus is one of the key building blocks of life and an essential nutrient for plant growth. When there is not enough phosphorus in the soil, farmers apply it via organic or mineral fertilisers.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/bacteria-help-recycle-phosphorus
Press release - 14/10/2020 Mitigating Climate Change with Biochar The urgency of the ongoing climate change is increasing. There is no doubt that emissions must be drastically reduced at all levels, but that is not enough. To prevent the worst consequences of climate change, additional carbon sinks, so-called negative emissions, are needed. A recently published whitepaper clearly and scientifically substantiates that biochar is a key technology in this fight against climate change.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/mitigating-climate-change-biochar
Press release - 05/10/2020 Solar-battery effect enables a new light-driven organic microswimmer to operate in the dark An interdisciplinary team of scientists at the Max Planck Institutes for Intelligent Systems and Solid State Research has developed a biocompatible microswimmer made of carbon nitride, which they can propel forward through light. The particle can also store solar energy similar to miniature solar cells equipped with batteries, and can thus also swim in the dark using the stored energy. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/solar-battery-effect-enables-new-light-driven-organic-microswimmer-operate-dark
Press release - 01/10/2020 Bacteria fed on a customized diet produce biodegradable polymers for alternative packaging in the cosmetics industry Germany generates around 38 kilograms of plastic waste per capita each year. Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB and the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV are now working to establish a holistic concept for the sustainable use of biologically degradable packaging materials in the cosmetics industry. The project is focusing on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/Bacteria-fed-on-a-customized-diet-produce-biodegradable-polymers-for-alternative-packaging-in-the-cosmetics-industry
Press release - 30/09/2020 Biased interpretation of EEA study on biodegradable and compostable plastics draws wrong image of immature consumer The European Environment Agency (EEA) recently published its new report “Biodegradable and compostable plastics – challenges and opportunities”. The report highlights many positive aspects of biodegradable and compostable plastics. Unfortunately, its interpretation in several media outlets focused exclusively on the few critical assumptions the report makes regarding consumer perception.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/biased-interpretation-eea-study-biodegradable-and-compostable-plastics-draws-wrong-image-immature-consumer
Press release - 30/09/2020 EIB and EC launch circular bioeconomy fund The European Commission (EC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have launched a circular bioeconomy fund with a target size of €250m.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/eib-and-ec-launch-circular-bioeconomy-fund
Press release - 21/09/2020 A local bioeconomy involving regions is important for realising Europe’s green recovery The workshop organised by Science Business, a leading publication on European research and innovation, involving BIC and the BBI JU, refined several key policy recommendations to European and national policymakers.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/local-bioeconomy-involving-regions-important-realising-europes-green-recovery
Press release - 02/09/2020 Improving the ecological footprint of bakeries New EIT Food project aims to use computer models to optimize bakery processes in order to minimize food waste, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions. Prof. Dr. Bernd Hitzmann: "With the help of simulations, we want to optimize the processes in bakeries, which leads to higher economic and ecological efficiency. This not only reduces production costs for bakeries, but also helps to slow the progress of climate change".https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/improving-ecological-footprint-bakeries
Press release - 28/08/2020 Bayreuth researchers develop new biomaterials from spider silk New biomaterials developed at the University of Bayreuth eliminate risk of infection and facilitate healing processes. These nanostructured materials are based on spider silk proteins. They prevent colonization by bacteria and fungi, but at the same time proactively assist in the regeneration of human tissue. They are therefore ideal for implants, wound dressings, prostheses, contact lenses, and other everyday aids.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/preventing-infection-facilitating-healing-bayreuth-researchers-develop-new-biomaterials-spider-silk
Online conference - 05/10/2020 - 09/10/2020 EFIB 2020 online, Kongress/Symposium https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/events/efib-2020
Online Conference - 07/09/2022 - 08/09/2022 World BioEconomy Forum Ruka (Finnland), Conference https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/events/world-bioeconomy-forum
Press release - 21/08/2020 From Biopaste to Bioplastic A viscous biopaste that is easy to process, solidifies quickly and is suitable for producing even complex structures using the 3D printing process has been developed by a research team headed by Prof. Dr. Marie-Pierre Laborie from the Chair of Forest Biomaterials at the University of Freiburg. The wood-based biodegradable synthetic could potentially be used in lightweight construction, amongst other things.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/biopaste-bioplastic
Press release - 21/08/2020 Artificial Carbohydrates for Sustainable Food Production What alternatives to conventional agriculture exist to produce carbohydrates for food and feed? Scientists at Heidelberg University performed model calculations for artificial sugar production with a view towards synthesis of other carbohydrates such as starch.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/artificial-carbohydrates-sustainable-food-production
Press release - 19/08/2020 Value creation by combining electrochemistry with biotechnology Time for climate protection is pressing. One approach to tackle this challenge is to use the greenhouse gas CO2 as a raw material for chemicals. The researchers of the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, together with partners from science and industry, were able to produce a value-added terpenoid dye from CO2 adsorbed from air by a combination of electrochemical and biotechnological conversion.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/farbstoffe-aus-atmosphaerischem-co2
Press release - 13/08/2020 Research Aims to Combine Species Protection & Palm Oil Production In Sumatra, small-scale farmers in particular play a key role, according to a study on the conversion of rainforests into monocultures and their effects Oil palm plantations as far as the eye can see. In addition to a dramatic loss of many animal and plant species, such plantations often lead to massive environmental problems.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/research-aims-combine-species-protection-palm-oil-production
Press release - 31/07/2020 Fraunhofer UMSICHT tests Henkel's extended evaluation tool for recyclable packaging Packaging protects products during transport and storage. In order to develop sustainable packaging and conserve resources, Henkel developed an evaluation tool that quickly and reliably checks plastic packaging for recyclability. The tool has now been expanded to include common materials, so that packaging made of paper/cardboard, glass, aluminum and tinplate can be analyzed in addition to plastic. Fraunhofer UMSICHT tested the software tool.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/fraunhofer-umsicht-tests-henkels-extended-evaluation-tool-recyclable-packaging
Press release - 27/07/2020 Self-healing soft material outsmarts nature A soft material that heals itself instantaneously is now reality.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/Self-healing-soft-material-outsmarts-nature
Press release - 22/07/2020 NanoCELL - Nanocellulose as great hope for environmentally friendly packaging Since the beginning of 2019, the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT has been working on a comprehensive characterization and humantoxicological assessment of nanocellulose along its life cycle in the BMBF-funded joint project "NanoCELL" under the coordination of Postnova Analytics GmbH, in order to achieve a reliable risk assessment and safe use in environmentally friendly packaging materials.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/NanoCELL-Nanocellulose-as-great-hope-for-environmentally-friendly-packaging
Qualitative soil fertiliser - 10/07/2020 How natural cycles can be closed with wood ash Recycled material instead of waste: wood ash is good for soil and plants - if the quality is right. The German Federal Quality Association for Food Ash ensures reliable wood ash standards with its certifications. The RAL-Dünger label for fertilisers provides the necessary certification for natural wood ashes to be used in the circular economy.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/how-natural-cycles-can-be-closed-wood-ash
Press release - 01/07/2020 Biowaste management remains untapped potential for the European Union A report recently published by the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) and Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) shows that with only 16% of the biowaste potential being used, the biowaste management still remains an untapped potential for the European Union to further transition to a Circular Economy. Both organizations jointly produced a first-of-its-kind report estimating the current and future availability of bio-waste in the EU27.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/biowaste-management-remains-untapped-potential-european-union