Bioeconomy

Germany’s no. 1 for Agricultural Sciences, Food Sciences and Nutritional Sciences: The University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart retains its top position. It is ranked 9th in Europe and 39th worldwide, according to the latest Best Global Universities rankings by U.S. News & World Report in partnership with Clarivate.

Press release - 13/11/2009

Second-generation biofuels

The Distillery for Research and Training at the University of Hohenheim has been reopened after the completion of renovation work costing around 1.2 million euros. The distillery is now equipped with a computer-operated process-control system and modern sensors, all state-of-the-art technology for the fermentation processes at Hohenheim. The new distillery pilot plant has a fermentation room for work with genetically modified organisms.…

Article - 25/10/2010

A plant hormone and growth in the dark

All multicellular organisms including plants produce hormones. One of the hormones plants produce is the phytohormone jasmonic acid which has for a long time mainly been known as a second messenger substance that is released when plants are attacked by pathogens. Some years ago Dr. Michael Riemann from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT discovered that jasmonic acid acts as a major growth regulator of phytochrome-mediated responses in…

Microbial cells long gave researchers the impression that they were in a state of complete disorder. Prof. Dr. Peter Graumann from the University of Freiburg investigates cell division in bacteria and knows that even microbes are highly organised.

Article - 19/06/2009

Bacteria with a chromium envelope

Heavy metals have become a huge problem for mankind. The construction of factories and the varnishing of cars leads to the contamination of soils and waters and therefore also to the poisoning of many organisms including people. Scientists are trying to use natural means to remove inorganic chemicals from the cycle or at least make them harmless. Dr. Johannes Gescher and his team at the Department of Microbiology at the University of Freiburg…

Article - 30/11/2009

Cells to analyse air

Exhaust gases smoke generated by industry and private household combustion processes every day we inhale a mixture of a broad range of particulate matter potentially resulting in respiratory tract or cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Silvia Diabat and her team from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT are examining the molecular mechanisms triggered by flue ash and other nanoparticles in the cells of the lung tissue.

Article - 30/03/2009

BARK CLOTH an ancient material meets biopolymers

Bark fleece is known to be the most ancient material and has been used for thousands of years. It is made in Africa using traditional methods. The company BARK CLOTH Europe based in Ebringen Germany is working with organic farmers in Uganda to produce this wood-free biomaterial. Working with partners of the network BARK CLOTH now hopes to refine BARKCLOTH with biopolymers.

Article - 18/05/2009

Less chemistry and fresher fruits and vegetables

At Lake Constance fruit growers have bigger problems to face than ideological discussions on biotechnology and genetic engineering. They need methodological solutions for devastating plant diseases that would help them reduce the use of chemicals.

In collaboration with researchers from the University of Tübingen scientists from the Tübingen-based biotechnology company Novis GmbH have now evaluated a biological leaching method that can be used to recycle valuable resources from incineration slag using bacteria. Funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment Climate Protection and the Energy Sector the experts from Tübingen are studying the possibility of using this method in…

Article - 10/05/2010

Europes largest bioethanol facility

Mannheim-based CropEnergies AG operates Europes largest bioethanol facility located in the town of Zeitz. The company is also erecting a large-scale facility for liquefying purifying and recycling biogenic carbon dioxide at the same site. The new plant will have an annual capacity of 100000 t of food-grade liquefied CO2.