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
Article - 05/07/2018 Sustainable building construction: municipalities go wood The days when forests died off in Germany are over. This is not only excellent news in terms of carbon storage. Using wood also helps us avoid carbon dioxide emissions. More and more cities rely on timber constructions, which have long been used in the high-tech sector. The HolzProKlima competition has massively promoted sustainable building construction in Baden-Württemberg, highlighting what it can offer in terms of climate protection.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/sustainable-building-construction-municipalities-go-wood
Press release - 02/07/2018 European "AlpLinkBioEco" project involving BIOPRO successfully launched The goal of the Interreg Alpine Space project "AlpLinkBioEco" is to establish better connections between Alpine regions and to focus more on biobased and circular value chains. BIOPRO is working to achieve this goal as part of a consortium involving 13 other European partners from France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/european-alplinkbioeco-project-involving-biopro-successfully-launched
Article - 05/06/2018 Book review: "Knowledge-Driven Developments in the Bioeconomy: Technological and Economic Perspectives" An international research network led by the University of Hohenheim sheds light on the concept of the knowledge-based bioeconomy from a number of different perspectives.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/book-review-knowledge-driven-developments-in-the-bioeconomy-technological-and-economic-perspectives