Press release - 30/06/2020 Study shows benefit of using compostable biowaste bags for quality of compost The Witzenhausen Institute and the University of Bayreuth conducted a very interesting study, analysing the compost of several German industrial composting facilities for possible plastic content deriving from compostable biowaste bags. The field study concluded that compostable bags, certified according to the European standard EN 13432, do not pose any challenges to the quality of the compost.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/study-shows-benefit-using-compostable-biowaste-bags-quality-compost
rezemo GmbH - 26/06/2020 Coffee capsules: wood instead of aluminium In Germany alone, around three billion disposable coffee capsules made of aluminium and plastic are sold every year. This creates a gigantic waste problem, as only a small proportion of the capsules can be recycled. Fully compostable wooden coffee capsules might be a solution to this problem. The capsules have been developed by a start-up company called rezemo, which also has other biobased packaging solutions in the pipeline.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/coffee-capsules-wood-instead-aluminium
Perspectives of methane as energy source - 18/06/2020 New technologies for using biogas as a balancing energy The microorganisms in biogas plants do a great job biologically converting CO₂ and hydrogen, which are primary fermentation products, into methane. Biomethane has a great future as an energy source. Scientists at the University of Hohenheim are investigating new ways to produce and use biomethane.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/new-technologies-for-using-biogas-as-balancing-energy
Degradable biopolymers - 29/05/2020 Bioplastics make wood cycles more sustainable Innovative technologies and bacteria can transform wood residues into sustainable bioplastic packaging. Before bioplastics are broken down into CO2 and water in an environmentally friendly way, they can thus lead lives as products in the cosmetics industry, for example.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/bioplastics-make-wood-cycles-more-sustainable
Press release - 26/05/2020 Using AI to Save Water in Agriculture Drought and weather fluctuations threaten agriculture in Germany often in spring already. An increasing number of farmers is forced to irrigate fields artificially. Water resources, however, are limited. Precise information on the state of plants and soils helps farmers take effective measures against damage caused by drought and to enhance irrigation efficiency. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/mit-ki-der-landwirtschaft-wasser-sparen
The “Rhizo-Lentil" EIP-AGRI project - 20/05/2020 NovoCarbo turns plant waste into biochar NovoCarbo GmbH produces biochar from plant residues such as wood chips, nutshells and manure. Different feedstocks, and the way these materials are processed, create biochars with different properties. This makes biochar suitable for different uses, including as a soil conditioner, in biogas plants or as bedding for stables and cowsheds. The Rhizo-Linse project is currently investigating whether biochar is also suitable as inoculant carrier for…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/novocarbo-turns-plant-waste-into-biochar
Press release - 18/05/2020 Biofuel for ships The combustion of conventional fossil fuels accounts for a large share of global CO2 emissions. A great deal of criticism is levelled against cruise and merchant ships for polluting the environment with sooty waste gas and toxic heavy fuels. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT in Oberhausen have been looking into alternative climate-friendly fuels.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/biosprit-fuer-den-schiffstank
Press release - 14/05/2020 Sustainable Production: New Research Focus of KIT Global population is increasing, crucial resources become scarcer. Producing enterprises today have to take the right steps for a sustainable future. On their behalf, scientists of KIT study how the production process may be improved by autonomous production control, reduction of wear parts, or principles of resource-efficient production. Their know-how is presently being pooled in the new research focus “Sustainable Production.”https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/nachhaltige-produktion-neuer-forschungsschwerpunkt-am-kit
Press release - 13/05/2020 Microbial Cyborgs: Bacteria Supplying Power Electronic devices are still made of lifeless materials. One day, however, “microbial cyborgs” might be used in fuel cells, biosensors, or bioreactors. Scientists of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have created the necessary prerequisite by developing a programmable, biohybrid system consisting of a nanocomposite and the Shewanella oneidensis bacterium that produces electrons. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/mikrobielle-cyborgs-bakterien-als-stromlieferanten
Press release - 07/05/2020 Photosynthesis in a droplet For hundreds of millions of years plants have had the ability to harness carbon dioxide from the air using solar energy. The Max Planck research network MaxSynBio is on the trail of building artificial cells as sustainable green bioreactors. The research team led by Tobias Erb from the Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg has now succeeded in developing a platform for the automated construction of cell-sized photosynthesis modules.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/fotosynthese-im-tropfen-forschende-entwickeln-einen-kuenstlichen-chloroplasten
Dossier - 28/04/2020 Sustainable bioenergy Biomass from forestry and agriculture along with residues from industry and households can contribute to our energy and raw material shift. Sustainable, regenerative biomass-based energy can become part of the energy mix of the future within the framework of a bioeconomy.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/Sustainable-bioenergy
Urban agriculture - 23/04/2020 alphabeet – the green-fingered smartphone Given the challenges faced by modern agriculture, it is vital to raise people’s awareness of how to change their approach to food. The founders of the Stuttgart-based start-up company farmee GmbH see urban agriculture as the key to making this change possible. The company has developed “alphabeet”, an app designed to encourage consumers to produce their own food. After all, only those combining knowledge and practical experience can be expected…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/alphabeet-the-green-fingered-smartphone
Biosensors - 09/04/2020 Sensors for the bioeconomy Sensor networks are one of the keys to achieving digitalisation of the bioeconomy. Sensor networks are on the way to becoming important analysis and control instruments for energy-efficient and sustainable material cycles. Dieter Hertweck, Professor of Business Information Systems at Reutlingen University of Applied Sciences, shows what is already possible in digital agriculture and waste recycling and what is feasible for the future.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/Sensors-for-the-bioeconomy
Press release - 19/03/2020 New Circular Economy Action Plan: no circular economy without bioeconomy "European Bioplastics (EUBP) welcomes the new Circular Economy Action Plan (nCEAP). It’s an ambitious step forward to transform Europe into a circular economy”, says François de Bie, Chairman of European Bioplastics. “As EUBP, we especially endorse the European Commission’s (EC) commitment to support the ‘sustainable and circular bio-based sector through the implementation of the Bioeconomy Action Plan’”https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/neuer-aktionsplan-fuer-die-kreislaufwirtschaft-keine-kreislaufwirtschaft-ohne-biooekonomie
The “Rhizo-Lentil" EIP-AGRI project - 03/03/2020 University of Hohenheim wants to improve the conditions for lentil cultivation Lentils were once considered poor man’s food, but in Germany demand for them has never been greater. And to satisfy this growing demand, more lentils need to be cultivated. This is why the University of Hohenheim is involved in the EIP-AGRI "Rhizo-Linse" project. The aim of the project is to find rhizobia strains that go well with lentil plants to increase yield and improve quality.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/University-of-Hohenheim-wants-to-improve-the-conditions-for-lentil-cultivation
Wood energy – heating with wood – interview with Stefan Pelz, HFR - 10/02/2020 Wood: a cornerstone in energy transition While a good third of the electricity in Germany now comes from renewable energy sources, the production and supply of heat from renewables has stagnated at around 11.5 percent. Energy from biomass, mainly wood and biogas, accounts for over 80 percent of the renewable energy produced. Bioenergy municipalities show how locally available, renewable raw materials and solar power can be intelligently combined for supplying energy.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/Wood-a-cornerstone-in-energy-transition
New perspectives for bioenergy - 10/02/2020 Biogas as a component of the energy transition Dr. Andreas Lemmer has been involved in the generation of energy from biomass for over 20 years. His employer, the State Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, runs the biogas pilot facility at Unterer Lindenhof near Reutlingen. Scientists here work under practical conditions testing new techniques.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/Biogas-as-a-component-of-the-energy-transition
Biogas and wood as components of the energy transition - 10/02/2020 New perspectives for bioenergy Decentralised, controllable and stable - renewable energy is an important component in the transition to a bioeconomy without fossil fuels. BIOPRO spoke to PD Dr. Andreas Lemmer from the State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy at the University of Hohenheim and Prof. Dr. Stefan Pelz, scientific director of the Institute for Applied Research and professorat the University of Applied Forest Sciences Rottenburg.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/New-perspectives-for-bioenergy
The "Protein Initiative” and the “Rhizo-Lentil" EIP-AGRI project - 31/01/2020 LTZ Augustenberg promotes regional protein production In future, more lentils, soybeans, peas, field beans and lupins will be grown again in Baden-Württemberg farms. This is what Dr. Carola Blessing from the Agricultural Technology Center (LTZ) Augustenberg is working on. It therefore became clear very quickly that the LTZ Augustenberg needed to get involved in the "Rhizo-Linse" project that aims to further develop lentil cultivation.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/LTZ-Augustenberg-promotes-regional-protein-production
Polysecure GmbH - 16/01/2020 Recycling of the future – marked plastic as a circular product Plastics are harmful to the climate and human health both during manufacture and combustion and they also clutter our planet with garbage. Recycling is therefore a key issue, but it is not efficient. Polysecure has developed a process for permanently marking individual plastics that enables them to be separated efficiently and returned to a circular economy. This would counteract the vast amount of (micro) plastics and reduce CO₂ emissions.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/recycling-of-the-future-marked-plastic-as-a-circular-product
Producing valuable new products from waste materials - 07/01/2020 A vision: insect biorefineries as components of a sustainable bioeconomy Eco-friendly and responsibly manufactured products are more in demand than ever before. Specific research is being carried out into materials and applications for a wide variety of uses. The Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB is working with Hermetia Baruth GmbH on the vision of an insect biofactory that uses waste materials to produce a wide range of products such as biosurfactants, animal feed or foils. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/A-vision-insect-biorefineries-as-components-of-a-sustainable-bioeconomy
EIP-AGRI project coordination - 12/12/2019 nadicom: “Rhizo-Linse” project – excellent small fertiliser factories Lentil plants, rarely cultivated in Central Europe in the twentieth century, are making a comeback. The "Rhizo-Linse"1 EIP-AGRI project aims to reintroduce old lentil varieties and make them appealing to farmers. A company called nadicom Gesellschaft für angewandte Mikrobiologie mbH is working on the development of an ecological product consisting of nodule bacteria that can improve lentil plant growth.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/nadicom-Rhizo-Linse-project-excellent-small-fertiliser-factories
Biosensors - 03/12/2019 Learning from honey bees Biosensors are used in medical diagnostics and food and environmental analyses, to name just a few examples. apic.ai, a start-up based in Karlsruhe, uses honey bees as bioindicators to gain insights into the state of the ecosystem. The company also uses artificial intelligence (AI) methods for their ecotoxicological investigations.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/learning-from-the-bees
CRISPR/Cas9 and genetic engineering laws - 27/11/2019 Transgene-free plant breeding using genome editing Plant geneticists from Tübingen have used genome deletion to breed a variety of tomato that is resistant to powdery mildew. The CRISPR/Cas9 technology that they used enabled them to achieve this in a relatively short period of time. They also demonstrated beyond any doubt that the new tomato variety contains no foreign DNA and is indistinguishable from naturally occurring deletion mutants.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/transgene-free-plant-breeding-using-genome-editing
Dossier - 15/11/2019 Microplastics waste is a valuable resource – it is just in the wrong place The negative image of plastic persists and is not getting any better in the face of the ongoing debate about microplastics which are basically everywhere. Plastic pollutes the environment. The globe is littered with huge quantities. We have to modify the production and utilisation of macroplastics as well as fundamentally rethink the way we dispose of them. ‘Out of sight, out of mind’ mentality must become a thing of the past.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/waste-valuable-resource-wrong-place
Article - 30/10/2019 Fuel from CO2 – compact decentralised facilities enable emission-free mobility Can greenhouse gases like CO2 and methane be used to fuel cars? What sounds like wishful thinking is in fact already reality at INERATEC. The company’s compact mobile systems equipped with a unique chemical reactor technology are attracting worldwide interest. The systems enable CO2-free mobility for road traffic, aviation and shipping. Is this development close to successful market entry?https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/Fuel-from-CO2-compact-decentralised-facilities-enable-emission-free-mobility
Article - 21/10/2019 Plant pots made of natural fibres – "bio", no ifs or buts Plastic plant pots are not good for the environment; strictly speaking, they should not even be disposed of in recycling bins. Alternatives such as coconut fibre pots are compostable, but not pollutant-free and not "bio" at all. The Karlsruhe-based company Fiber Engineering has developed a truly ecofriendly way to grow plants: pots made of hemp or grass, which are preserved with biological components and decompose completely within a…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/pflanztoepfe-aus-naturfasern-bio-ohne-wenn-und-aber
Article - 19/09/2019 Magnetised algae as microrobots for medical and environmental purposes Algae, for most of us, is something that lives in water courses that we occasionally find unpleasant. However, that is to do them a wrong. These extremely versatile and frugal organisms might in future prove to be extremely important. Scientists at the University of Stuttgart are investigating how algae can be used as microrobots in biomedicine and environmental remediation.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/magnetisierte-algen-als-mikroroboter-fuer-medizin-und-umwelt
Two-part interview part 2 | Prof. Dr. Ortwin Renn on the green genetic engineering debate - 26/08/2019 "Green genetic engineering is a scapegoat, but no longer an innocent one" Many scientists are expecting revolutionary advances in research to come from new molecular biology tools such as the CRISPR/Cas gene scissors. These methods are very important for agriculture, especially plant breeding and nutrition. However, the debate on green genetic engineering 2.0 looks like it may once again be heading for ideological battles. We talked with Prof. Dr. Ortwin Renn and asked him about opportunities for better communication.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/renn-green-genetic-engineering
Press release - 19/08/2019 Catalysts for climate protection How can we achieve the internationally agreed climate targets? The Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB makes the greenhouse gas CO2 usable as a carbon source for the chemical industry. With a patented catalyst synthesis, screening for the optimal catalyst in high throughput and combined (electro)chemical-biotechnological processes, various concepts are available to CO2 emitting industries.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/katalysatoren-fuers-klima
Two-part interview part 1 | Prof. Dr. Regina Birner on the green genetic engineering debate - 12/08/2019 Agricultural economist Birner calls for other forms of dialogue besides organized interest groups Green genetic engineering continues to divide opinion in Germany in the same way as CRISPR/Cas and other genome editing (GE) techniques. What are the consequences for the bioeconomy, which involves key areas of biotechnology? We talked with Prof. Dr. Regina Birner, agricultural economist and head of Hohenheim University’s Department of Social and Institutional Change in Agricultural Development at the Institute of Agricultural and Social…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/agricultural-economist-birner-calls-for-other-forms-of-dialogue-besides-organized-interest-groups
Article - 01/08/2019 Clean water thanks to microplastics He swam the entire length of the River Rhine to draw attention to the contamination of rivers and oceans with plastic waste. After completing his mammoth swim, Prof. Dr. Andreas Fath decided to kill two birds with one stone and do something useful with microplastics. At the Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences campus in Villingen-Schwenningen, Fath is working on a filter system made of plastic waste that can be used to remove pollutants from…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/Clean-water-thanks-to-microplastics
Article - 10/07/2019 More than just a nut – new products for the bioeconomy Plants are often used for one particular purpose only. However, walnut trees have much more to offer than just delicious nuts. The AlpBioEco project is studying the potential of walnut trees for the bioeconomy and how the potential can be exploited commercially. The international team of researchers is also focusing on apples and herbs.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/mehr-als-eine-harte-nuss-neue-produkte-fur-die-biookonomie
Article - 04/07/2019 Sustainable energy storage using egg shells Germans consumed 235 chicken eggs per head. While egg white and egg yolks are processed into cakes, pasta or scrambled eggs, the shell predominantly ends up as organic waste. This despite the fact that eggshells are complex composites of lime and protein fibres. “It has repeatedly been shown over recent years that natural products are excellently suited for energy storage,” explains Professor Maximilian Fichtner from the Helmholtz Institute Ulm,…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/nachhaltige-energiespeicher-aus-eierschalen
Article - 27/05/2019 Providing Growledge - resources and products for the bioeconomy Miscanthus and hemp are biomass plants that can be used as raw materials for a wide range of products and can be grown on land areas that are currently underutilised. A European consortium led by the University of Hohenheim in Baden-Württemberg has started a five-year project to demonstrate the economic potential of these plants.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/providing-growledge-resources-and-products-for-the-bioeconomy
Press release - 15/05/2019 Farmers and end users now benefit from a new database of industrial crops growing on marginal land! The European Union's Horizon 2020 project MAGIC has reached a milestone by uploading a beta version of its Decision Support System for farmers and end users, showing marginal land and an overview of industrial crops suitable to be grown on this land.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/farmers-and-end-users-now-benefit-from-a-new-database-of-industrial-crops-growing-on-marginal-land
Article - 08/05/2019 Environmentally friendly alternative to fossil natural gas: methane from biomass In cooperation with the research unit of the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW), KIT researchers have built a pilot plant in which biogas produced by fermenting residual organic materials can be upgraded to synthetic methane (synthetic SNG). Biobased methane is not only a sustainable energy source for the heating and transport sectors, but also opens up new opportunities for temporary storage of renewable…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/environmentally-friendly-alternative-to-fossil-natural-gas-methane-from-biomass
Press release - 07/05/2019 Orthoses and prostheses made of bio-based plastics In a research project, the Fraunhofer Institute for manufacturing engineering and automation (IPA) and the company Tecnaro and d dealt with orthoses and prostheses made of bio-based materials. You developed suitable organic polymer compounds, it produced prototypes and tested them.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/orthoses-and-prostheses-made-of-bio-based-plastics
Dossier - 15/04/2019 The alternative: “bioplastics” Plastic waste takes years to decompose and pollutes the environment. Nevertheless, plastics are an indispensable part of everyday life. It is therefore all the more important to find a meaningful alternative that is sustainable, environmentally friendly and has better properties and more functionality than conventional plastics. In addition, such an alternative should not be dependent in any way on fossil resources.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/the-alternative-bioplastics
Article - 02/04/2019 Simple sugar could soon compete with glyphosate For many decades, glyphosate has been a common component of agricultural pesticides worldwide, although it is a controversial herbicide that may be harmful. The good news is that a more sustainable alternative is now in sight: researchers from the University of Tübingen have discovered a sugar molecule called 7-deoxy-sedoheptulose (7dSh) which inhibits the growth of plants and microorganisms, but appears to be completely harmless to human cells.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/simple-sugar-could-soon-compete-with-glyphosate
Article - 27/03/2019 Residues from biogas plants as feed for algae Algae are frugal organisms. They require only light, water, minerals and carbon dioxide to be able to produce biomass. These properties will now be exploited economically in a two-year research project. Dr. Stefan Sebök from the University of Hamburg plans to study the holistic utilisation of degradation products of a biogas plant in Wallerstädten by linking them to land-based algae cultivation.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/residues-from-biogas-plants-as-feed-for-algae
Article - 21/03/2019 Education as the key to a successful transition into a bioeconomy National and international policy papers emphasize the role of the education sector in the transition into a bioeconomy. On the practical level, various actors are working on programmes to prepare professionals for future challenges. The University of Hohenheim, for example, offers a bioeconomy master's programme and is one of the universities that have laid the cornerstone for the “European Bioeconomy University” consortium. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/bildung-als-schluessel-fuer-eine-erfolgreiche-biooekonomie-transformation
Article - 12/03/2019 Biocarbon fibres made of lignin Carbon fibre is increasingly found in airplanes, cars and wind turbines. Carbon fibre is still made from oil and relatively expensive. However, this is soon to change. Researchers from the German Institutes of Textile and Fibre Research in Denkendorf (DITF) are working on the development of cost-effective carbon fibre made of lignin, a by-product of papermaking.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/biocarbon-fibres-made-of-lignin
Dossier - 04/03/2019 Sustainable textiles Baden-Württemberg is known for innovation in textiles and for playing a decisive role in the development of sustainable textiles for the future both in the clothing and the booming technical textile sectors. Companies and research institutes are focused on making the entire textile value chain from raw materials, production and useful life to disposal more sustainable than ever before.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/sustainable-textiles
Article - 11/02/2019 Natural biopolymers - the sustainable almost-all-rounders Wood pulp as well as hemp and flax are renewable raw materials that can be processed into fibres of a new performance class using innovative technologies. They are environmentally friendly and help to solve waste problems. Products and processes for these fibres of the future are being developed at the DITF Denkendorf. They are suitable for textile and technical applications.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/natural-biopolymers-the-sustainable-almost-all-rounders
Press release - 01/02/2019 Novel unusual sugar from cyanobacteria acts as natural herbicide https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/novel-unusual-sugar-from-cyanobacteria-acts-as-natural-herbicide
Article - 30/01/2019 candidum – computer-assisted enzyme design Industry has been using enzymes for over a hundred years. While it initially had to content itself with natural enzymes, it is now increasingly possible to design tailor-made biocatalysts with specific properties. The start-up company candidum GmbH from Stuttgart promises to achieve this faster than ever before - mostly thanks to accelerated virtual screening.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/candidum-computer-assisted-enzyme-design
Article - 24/01/2019 Scientists to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wastewater In Germany, around 1,500 tonnes of antibiotics per year are administered to humans and animals. As a result, more and more bacteria are developing resistance to common antibiotics. As part of HyReKA, a cooperative project funded by the BMBF, scientists led by Professor Thomas Schwartz from the KIT are investigating how antibiotic-resistant pathogens spread and how they can be prevented from doing so.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/scientists-to-combat-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-in-wastewater
Press release - 16/01/2019 The Alliance Launches Today An alliance of global companies from the plastics and consumer goods value chain today launched a new organization to advance solutions to eliminate plastic waste in the environment, especially in the ocean.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/the-alliance-launches-today
Article - 10/01/2019 Stocktaking and recommendations for action: the BBAW’s fourth gene technology report In the new gene technology report, the interdisciplinary working group of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences (BBAW) takes stock of gene technology developments in Germany during the past few decades, and discusses the societal, legal and ethical challenges associated with these technologies in the future. The report is highly topical due to the controversy surrounding the ruling of the European Court of Justice on CRISPR/Cas9 genome…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/stocktaking-and-recommendations-for-action-the-bbaws-fourth-gene-technology-report
Anniversary - 12/12/2018 15 years of BIOPRO: Pooling competencies – pushing innovations This is the leitmotif of BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbH, which was founded in 2003. 15 years is a good time to pause for a moment and take a look at BIOPRO’s work and achievements. As a central point of contact and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Baden-Württemberg government whose main objective is to promote networking, BIOPRO knows only too well that progress is not made alone, but in collaboration with others.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/15-years-of-biopro-pooling-competencies-pushing-innovations
Article - 06/12/2018 Celeriac and electricity: dual-use system on arable land Food or fuel? Potatoes or electricity? In addition to growing energy crops for biofuel and biogas production, open space solar plants also compete with food production when it comes to land use. Agrophotovoltaics (APV), i.e. the dual use of arable land, can mitigate the conflicting interests of agriculture and open space PV systems. APV-RESOLA is a pilot project aimed at investigating the efficiency of this dual use.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/celeriac-and-electricity-dual-use-system-on-arable-land
Article - 26/11/2018 Innovations to facilitate a greener world The Second Global Bioeconomy Summit, held in Berlin in April 2018, confirmed the essential role of modern genetic engineering methods such as genome editing in producing heat- and drought-tolerant crops adapted to the changing climate. Such methods are clearly required to help achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/innovations-to-facilitate-a-greener-world
Press release - 21/11/2018 “European Bioeconomy University”: Six Universities Form International Alliance with Focus on Bioeconomy Europe’s leading universities in the field of the bioeconomy are looking to further intensify their existing cooperation to develop common problem-solving approaches for society’s most urgent challenges.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/european-bioeconomy-university-six-universities-form-international-alliance-with-focus-on-bioeconomy
Press release - 21/11/2018 Biorefining of microalgae https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/bioraffination-von-mikroalgen
Plant breeding - 19/11/2018 Tobacco for health https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/tobacco-for-health
Press release - 02/11/2018 Producing everyday products with fungi https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/pilze-als-produzenten-fuer-alltagsprodukte
Article - 29/10/2018 The International Biogas and Bioenergy Competence Centre (IBBK) and its role in Baden-Württemberg’s bioeconomy The number of biogas plants in Germany has increased almost tenfold since the start of the new millennium1. IBBK Fachgruppe Biogas GmbH, founded in 2000, has helped shape this development through training, consulting services and projects. Since 2015, the company has also been working on behalf of the Baden-Württemberg government to advise operators of existing and planned biogas facilities. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/the-international-biogas-and-bioenergy-competence-centre-ibbk-and-its-role-in-baden-wuerttembergs-bioeconomy
Press release - 24/10/2018 Plastic Oceans: MEPs back EU ban on throwaway plastics by 2021 https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/wegwerfprodukte-aus-plastik-parlament-stimmt-fuer-verbot-ab-2021
Article - 23/10/2018 SteamBio – biomass residuals from rural areas as flexible raw materials for producing chemicals and energy Biomass is the main resource of the bioeconomy. However, biomass has a low energy density and also needs to be used decentrally where it grows. A project group involving researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart and other institutions in Europe is addressing these challenges and demonstrating how biomass from rural areas can be made suitable for industrial processes.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/steambio-biomass-residuals-from-rural-areas-as-flexible-raw-materials-for-producing-chemicals-and-energy
Press release - 13/09/2018 Bioplastic materials’ value propositions well reflected in European Parliament’s report on Plastics Strategy The European Parliament’s report on the European Strategy for Plastics adopted today by the plenary testifies to the increasing acknowledgement and endorsement of the value propositions of bioplastics. Rapporteur Mark Demesmaeker highlights the potential role of bio-based plastics and of biodegradable plastics in establishing a strong circular EU bioeconomy.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/bioplastic-materials-value-propositions-well-reflected-in-european-parliaments-report-on-plastics-strategy
Press release - 29/08/2018 A transparent and thermally stable polyamide – 100 percent biobased https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/a-transparent-and-thermally-stable-polyamide-100-percent-biobased
Overview Perspectives on the bioeconomy https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/bw/definition/perspectives-on-the-bioeconomy
Plastic waste - 23/08/2018 Microplastic in waters – mini waste as maxi problem New studies reveal that rivers are major contributors to marine ecosystem pollution. A study commissioned by environmental authorities in BW and four other German states analysed samples from 25 rivers to gain an idea of the occurrence of microplastics in German inland waters. In addition, Dr. Natalie Orlowski from the University of Freiburg is analysing microplastics pollution in the Dreisam River.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/microplastic-in-waters-mini-waste-as-maxi-problem
Overview Processes and technologies in the bioeconomy https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/bw/definition/processes-and-technologies-in-the-bioeconomy
Company profile - 15/08/2018 Goldmine “biomass” – carbonauts convert biomass into high-value platform products Biomass can be carbonised and converted into certified carbon using a technology called “carbotwin”, which enables simultaneous production of energy. The carbon is thus stored in the end products and does not enter the atmosphere as CO2. Carbonauten, a start-up company from the Baden-Württemberg town of Giengen, shows that the process is not only environmentally friendly, but also economically viable.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/goldmine-biomass-carbonauts-convert-biomass-into-high-value-platform-products
Press release - 30/07/2018 Driving on bark, building with nutshells Over the next four years the European UNRAVEL project will demonstrate a sustainable and economically feasible biorefinery for the conversion of second generation biomass into fuels, chemicals and building materials. In their efforts the partnership from six European countries are supported by the Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) which funds the UNRAVEL project with 3.6 million Euros.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/driving-on-bark-building-with-nutshells
Press release - 27/07/2018 KIT Takes the Next Step: Federal and State Ministries Determined to Push KIT’s Further Development To further support and develop the scientific capacity of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the federal and state governments are determined to take the courageous merger of 2009 to the next level. During their joint visit of KIT today, Federal Minister of Education and Research Anja Karliczek and the Baden-Württemberg Minister for Science, Research and the Arts Theresia Bauer agreed on the next steps. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/kit-takes-the-next-step-federal-and-state-ministries-determined-to-push-kits-further-development
Press release - 26/07/2018 Power-to-X technologies and renewables Storage solutions will be very much in demand as renewables account for a growing share of electricity in the grid. One option – converting fluctuating green electricity into chemical energy carriers or raw materials – looks particularly promising. Scientists at the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) want to put power-to-X processes into action with a two-pronged strategy.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/power-to-x-technologies-and-renewables
Funding Future Insight Prize Funding programme, Funded by: Merck KGaA, sb_search.searchresult.label.programSubmissionDate: 31/12/2022 https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/databases/funding/future-insight-prize
Press release - 19/07/2018 Fraunhofer CBP supplies lignin for biobased materials https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/fraunhofer-cbp-supplies-lignin-for-biobased-materials
Funding Funding of the German Federal Environmental Foundation Funding programme, Funded by: DBUhttps://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/databases/funding/funding-of-the-german-federal-environmental-foundation