Outlook on the future of agriculture - 30/11/2020 Agriculture 4.0 – ultramodern and without harmful plant protection products The demand for organic products is continuing to grow; at the same time nature is being preserved – so why not switch completely to organic farming? The answer is simple: because not everyone can afford it, and with current consumption patterns not everyone would get enough to eat. A cooperative project is researching an an agricultural system that falls between conventional and organic farming.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/Agriculture-4-0-ultramodern-and-without-harmful-plant-protection-products
Press release - 19/11/2020 Bioeconomy on the upswing in the crisis – global Summit Approximately 3,000 participants from all over the world are taking part today in the Global Bioeconomy Summit 2020. That Summit takes place from November 16 to 20, guided virtually from Berlin. Germany's partners are ASEAN/Thailand, Japan, Latin America, East Africa and - of particular importance - the EU Commission. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/biooekonomie-im-aufschwung-der-krise
Development of biogenic packaging - 16/11/2020 Sustainable packaging - the devil is in the detail Modern packaging often boils down to a tick list of biogenic origin and/or biodegradability. But comprehensive sustainable packaging concepts need more than just that. Perishable foods, for example, require special barrier properties. The Albstadt-Sigmaringen University of Applied Sciences is researching packaging concepts for their sustainability.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/sustainable-packaging-devil-detail
Dossier - 09/11/2020 Packaging of the future What will the packaging of the future look like, and what will be required of it? Can packaging be biobased, recyclable, sustainable and economic? In Baden-Württemberg, there are various approaches to developing packaging with the above properties from various sources including agricultural residual and side streams as well as municipal waste.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/packaging-future
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
Funding Development and improvement of biomass conversion technologies for the provisioning of heat for industrial processes Funding programme, Funded by: BMEL, FNR, Submission deadline: 26/01/2021 https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/databases/funding/Development-and-improvement-of-biomass-conversion-technologies-for-the-provisioning-of-heat-for-industrial-processes
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 Horizon 2020 Green Deal Call Funding programme, Funded by: Horizon 2020, Submission deadline: 26/01/2021 https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/databases/funding/horizon-2020-green-deal-call
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/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
Funding Regulations governing the funding of international collaborative projects under the National Bioeconomy Strategy “Bioeconomy International 2021” Funding programme, Funded by: BMEL, BMBF, Submission deadline: 19/03/2021 https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/databases/funding/regulations-governing-funding-international-collaborative-projects-under-national-bioeconomy-strategy-bioeconomy-international-2
Life Science job fair - 28/04/2021 CONTACT2021 Heidelberghttps://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/events/contact2021
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
Event - 03/11/2020 Building a Sustainable Network for Smart SMEs in the Alpine Region Online event, Registration deadline: 16/10/2020https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/events/building-sustainable-network-smart-smes-alpine-region
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 - 10/09/2020 World BioEconomy Forum onlinehttps://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/events/world-bioeconomy-forum