Bioeconomy

Article - 30/03/2009

Bacteria can determine the flavour of wine

What is the connection between biotechnology and wine production? The answer is that there are more than 150 yeasts currently on the market that are used to influence the fermentation and hence the quality of wine. Enzyme preparations optimise the different steps in wine production. Dr. Jürgen Sigler from the State Institute of Viticulture and Oenology WBI is working on the development of biological methods to improve the flavour and taste of…

The report Future Bioenergy and Sustainable Land Use is the first integrated study of bioenergy to explore the issue in the context of global environmental and development policy. It shows that the global sustainable potential for producing energy from biomass is significant.

The fact that petrol is becoming more and more expensive has a knock-on effect on the chemical industry. At Biotechnica 2008 Fraunhofer researchers showed how chemical products can be produced from rape whey and crab shells.

Biogas experts at the University of Hohenheim believe that up to 50 per cent more energy can be achieved per hectare of cultivated energy crops. The researchers are hoping that Germanys first biogas research plant will provide them with new insights.

There are some exciting developments in the expansion of bioenergy said the Baden-Württemberg Minister for Nutrition and Rural Areas Peter Hauk speaking at the conference Progress in Bioethanol Production Energy- Material- and Emission Balances.

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is providing total funding for research into biomass utilisation of 50 million euros. Biofuels remain an important research topic this is more than evident from the current debate on biofuel in Germany.

Press release - 05/04/2008

Hezinger Algaetec Bio-diesel should soon become cheaper

The system exporter Hezinger GmbH wants to act in future as a global supplier of photobioreactors for the breeding of algae in order to promote the extraction of bio-diesel from the vegetable oil of algae as an alternative to the use of wheat rapeseed and maize.

Energy experts have been dreaming about using hydrogen as an inexhaustible energy source for a long time. However this vision has not yet become reality. The search for intelligent affordable methods that can be used to convert sun energy wind or water power into hydrogen has so far led to dead ends. However small algae might now pave the way into the hydrogen era.

An outline of ideas or a proposal must be sent up until 14th May 2008.

Applications have to be submitted to the Project Management Organisation Jülich before the 15th April 2008.

A list of potential research topics will be published at www.fz-juelich.deptjplant.

On 21st November 2007 the German Minister of Agriculture Horst Seehofer and the German Minister of the Environment Sigmar Gabriel presented a strategy on Germanys climate and energy policy in the biofuel sector the Biofuels Roadmap.