Project FuTuReS - 12/12/2022 Microalgae - high-quality products for domestic agriculture? Algae are aquatic organisms that flourish in a huge variety of species. But that's not all: they are also small green mini-factories that can produce all kinds of valuable materials. All they need is water, light, CO2 and a few nutrients that can be recycled from biogas or sewage treatment plants. Researchers have now determined the optimal framework conditions and practicability of process methods for agricultural algae cultivation.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/microalgae-high-quality-products-domestic-agriculture
Festo’s high-tech bioreactor - 10/11/2022 Valuable materials of all kinds - produced automatically in living cells In future, algae could be used to produce practically everything that still requires petroleum, including plastics, fuels, medicines and food. Algae are also climate savers par excellence, because they bind ten times more CO2 than terrestrial plants. Festo, a company based in Esslingen, Germany, has developed a high-tech bioreactor that can be used to automatically cultivate the small green biofactories - and that do so a hundred times more…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/valuable-materials-all-kinds-produced-automatically-living-cells
Press release - 29/09/2022 Algae as microscopic biorefineries Fossil raw materials are limited and not available and extractable everywhere in the world – as we are becoming acutely aware of right now by the example of fossil fuels and rising energy prices. Renewable raw material sources will therefore play an increasingly important role in the future: as energy sources, but ideally also as suppliers of building blocks for more environmentally compatible chemicals and materials.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/algen-als-mikroskopische-bioraffinerien
Press release - 02/03/2022 Pilot project RoKKa uses wastewater to produce fertiliser and raw materials The Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector is funding the new research project RoKKa which is used to prove the viability of recovering raw materials from wastewater. This adds a crucial function to the scope of a conventional sewage treatment plant. Together with the operators of the sewage treatment plants in Erbach and Neu-Ulm, the project partners demonstrate the positive contribution towards climate protection…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/die-klaeranlage-der-zukunft-heisst-bioraffinerie
Reduction of greenhouse gases in wine production - 31/08/2021 The REDWine project and climate change In the EU project REDWine, the CO2 produced during wine fermentation is captured and used to produce algae biomass. Novis GmbH from Tübingen supplies the complete system for CO2 utilisation. The aim of the project is to reduce the share of global warming caused by wine production in a way that is economical for producers.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/redwine-project-and-climate-change
Showcase Bioeconomy - 22/06/2021 Advanced biofuel breakthrough: HyFlexFuel converted sewage sludge and other biomasses into kerosene by hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) The EU funded research project HyFlexFuel recently succeeded to produce biocrudes via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) from a variety of biomasses, including sewage sludge, food waste, manure, wheat straw, corn stover, pine sawdust, miscanthus and microalgae in a pilot-scale continuous HTL plant at Aarhus University (Denmark).https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/advanced-biofuel-breakthrough-hyflexfuel-converted-sewage-sludge-and-other-biomasses-kerosene-hydrothermal-liquefaction-htl
Press release - 02/02/2021 Cyanobacteria could revolutionize the plastic industry Microbiologists at the University of Tübingen modify bacteria to produce climate-neutral and rapidly degradable bioplastics.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/Cyanobacteria-could-revolutionize-the-plastic-industry
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 - 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
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
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
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
Press release - 21/11/2018 Biorefining of microalgae Konstanz chemist Professor Stefan Mecking awarded funding for innovative refinery concept for microalgae lipids.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/bioraffination-von-mikroalgen
Overview Perspectives on the bioeconomy The sustainable economic system known as the bioeconomy is based on two main pillars: the use of renewable raw materials rather than fossil raw materials, and biobased innovations. The aim of the bioeconomy is therefore not only to replace fossil raw materials, but also to develop completely new products and processes. In so doing, it contributes to and creates the conditions for a closed circular economy. Baden-Württemberg has the skills…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/bw/definition/perspectives-on-the-bioeconomy
Overview Processes and technologies in the bioeconomy The state of Baden-Württemberg is characterised by strong economic expertise in the field of plant and mechanical engineering as well as excellent research institutions in the fields of biology, biotechnology, bioprocess engineering and chemistry. These form an excellent basis for a sustainable economy by promoting technology development and innovation for tomorrow’s bioeconomy.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/bw/definition/processes-and-technologies-in-the-bioeconomy
Article - 30/11/2017 Biomass from algae and the wholesale market – a promising replacement for fossil raw materials Funding renewable energies is one of the EU’s key objectives. Biomass such as algae and organic waste are particularly promising because they are not in competition with food production. Scientists at the Fraunhofer IGB in Stuttgart ferment biomass from wholesale market waste and algae. They use a cascade process to obtain valuable materials and the biogas methane. Their aim is to close material cycles and achieve high efficiency and flexibility…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/biomasse-aus-algen-und-vom-grossmarkt-zukunftstraechtiger-ersatz-fuer-fossile-rohstoffe
Article - 27/11/2017 Microalgae – resource-saving raw materials for the food and feed sectors Coal, petrol and natural gas are our energy sources and the basis for the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. However, the supply of fossil fuels is gradually running out. The Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart has turned to microalgae in the search for alternative sources of energy. Initial pilot projects in which a variety of different methods based on state-of-the-art technologies were…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/microalgae-resource-saving-raw-materials-for-the-food-and-feed-sectors
Article - 01/09/2016 Tailor-made biotech fibres for improved wound dressings Scientists have developed a biotechnological process to produce bacterial alginate. The alginate quality is highly reproducible, making it suitable for the production of fibre-based medicinal products such as wound dressings.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/made-to-measure-biotech-fibres
Article - 16/08/2016 Learning from wild grapevines Grapevines are treated with pesticides more frequently than any other crop. Peter Nick from the Botanical Institute at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology is pursuing an ambitious goal: sustainable viticulture rather than toxins. Sustainable viticulture takes into account plants’ natural capacities of resistance. Nick uses the European Wild Grape, the ancestor of cultivated grapevine varieties, for his research as the plant is able to…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/learning-from-wild-grapevines
Energy transition - 28/09/2015 Biogas from unicellular green algae Microalgae are among the most promising sources of sustainable, carbon-neutral biofuels for the future. They are already being used as feedstock for producing biogas, biodiesel, bioethanol and kerosene, but the associated production methods consume a great deal of energy and are rather costly. Dr. Nikolaos Boukis from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is working on the development of a sophisticated, thermochemical process with an…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/biogas-from-unicellular-green-algae
Article - 14/09/2015 Producing chemicals sustainably using microalgae Many chemicals in lubricants and washing powder are produced from fossil fuel. However, as fossil fuel is limited and reserves are slowly but surely running out, finding suitable substitutes is essential. This is the only way to ensure that much needed working materials continue to be available in the future. Sandra Heß from the University of Konstanz is involved in an interdisciplinary PhD project that explores the production of plastics,…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/producing-chemicals-sustainably-using-microalgae
Article - 13/04/2015 Ioanna Hariskos: Biogenic calcification as a role model for industry Emiliania huxleyi, a calciferous microalga of global importance, is one of the major calcite producers in the world’s oceans. It forms calcium carbonate discs that are barely discernible under a light microscope. This biogenic calcite differs from fossil calcite primarily by its filigree three-dimensional structure. Ioanna Hariskos and other scientists from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) produce highly complex biogenic calcite…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/ioanna-hariskos-biogenic-calcification-as-a-role-model-for-industry
Article - 22/09/2014 Heike Frühwirth brings engineering methods into the hype about algae Heike Frühwirth is not terribly taken by the euphoria surrounding the potential of algae. She knows better as she has become aware of the potential pitfalls from her own personal experience. Frühwirth was born in the Austrian city of Graz where she also studied process engineering. She has been in charge of process engineering under the industrial biotechnology study programme at Biberach University of Applied Sciences since 2012. She specializes…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/heike-fruehwirth-brings-engineering-methods-into-the-hype-about-algae
Article - 25/08/2014 Production of synthetic polymers from algae oil Algae are rich in valuable substances and can be grown easily, which makes them promising candidates for the sustainable production of raw materials. The work done by Prof. Dr. Stefan Mecking at the University of Konstanz in cooperation with plant physiologist Prof. Dr. Peter Kroth, confirms this. The two scientists have developed a method to transform algae oil into high-quality chemical raw materials which can, amongst other things, be used for…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/production-of-synthetic-polymers-from-algae-oil
Dossier - 09/12/2013 Industrial biotechnology – biological resources for industrial processes Industrial or white biotechnology uses microorganisms and enzymes to produce goods for industry, including chemicals, plastics, food, agricultural and pharmaceutical products and energy carriers. Renewable raw materials and increasingly also waste from agriculture and forestry are used for the manufacture of industrial goods. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/industrial-biotechnology-biological-resources-for-industrial-processes