Think Tank FYI: Agriculture 5.0 - 16/02/2023 Agriculture 5.0: fighting the climate crisis with agrophotovoltaics and biochar Climate protection, agriculture and biodiversity are closely intertwined. Agriculture 5.0 provides positive guidance, as the Offenburg University of Applied Sciences has demonstrated: agrophotovoltaics (or agrivoltaics), which is currently in vogue in Germany, can be used to generate solar power on high-yield fields. Biomass strips and biochar remove CO2 from the atmosphere. All this improves soil quality and promotes biodiversity.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/agriculture-50-fighting-climate-crisis-agrophotovoltaics-and-biochar
Synergistic effects with microalgae and purple bacteria - 03/02/2023 Working towards a hydrogen economy with a wastewater biorefinery: the SmartBioH2-BW project A biorefinery that uses industrial wastewater and residual material streams is being built in Rheinfelden (Baden). It will have two interlinking bioreactors and will synthesize biohydrogen as well as organic basic materials such as carotenoids and proteins. SmartBioH2-BW is a pilot project run by the Urban and Industrial Biorefineries initiative and funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and Energy Sector.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/working-towards-hydrogen-economy-wastewater-biorefinery-smartbioh2-bw-project
Valorization of biological materials - 12/01/2023 ValBio-Urban brings bioeconomy research to users Reducing carbon dioxide emissions and the capture and utilization of CO2 are important steps towards achieving a climate-neutral and sustainable economy. Accordingly, as part of the ValBio-Urban research project, an interdisciplinary team from the University of Stuttgart is developing bioeconomic approaches to solutions that will be implemented with companies from Baden-Württemberg.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/valbio-urban-brings-bioeconomy-research-users
Press release - 08/12/2022 Tübingen Environmental Researcher Lars Angenent Receives the Leibniz Prize Tübingen biotechnologist Lars Angenent is being awarded the Leibniz Prize by the German Research Foundation (DFG) in appreciation of his outstanding work in the field of environmental biotechnology, it was announced in Bonn on Thursday. The DFG said: “In view of climate change and the resulting need to develop a sustainable food, chemistry and energy economy, his work is highly relevant.”https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/tuebingen-environmental-researcher-lars-angenent-receives-leibniz-prize
Press release - 30/11/2022 New Business Directory: Renewable Carbon Companies (ReCaCo) Find companies that already offer fossil carbon free products, made from biomass, CO2 and recyclinghttps://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/new-business-directory-renewable-carbon-companies-recaco
Press release - 29/11/2022 Proteins from Pastures: Success for initial feed trials A tasty dish for chickens: Researchers from the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart were able to feed the animals the first 50 kilos of protein extract that were obtained from pasture. Yet the plants found in fields and meadows offer much more than a new source of protein for pigs and poultry: They could also constitute an alternative to soy for human nutrition. They also form a basis for organic-based plastics and paper, energy, and…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/proteine-aus-gruenland-schnitt-erste-fuetterungsversuche-verlaufen-erfolgreich
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
Carbon sequestration - 28/07/2022 Carbon farming - climate protection on agricultural land? Agriculture plays a key role in helping to achieve European climate targets. Central to this goal are measures that are collectively referred to as carbon farming and are often used for offsetting greenhouse gas emissions. Two Baden-Württemberg companies - CarboCert and Carbonfuture - are active in addressing the challenges and potentials of carbon farming.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/carbon-farming-climate-protection-agricultural-land
Paludiculture as a beacon of hope for the climate - 28/06/2022 Peatlands as CO2 reservoirs: simultaneous renaturation and use Peatlands store more carbon dioxide than any other ecosystem in the world. However, when drained, they become a climate-damaging source of CO2. The management of wet peatlands reveals exciting solutions, with market potential in the areas of local heating, insulation, packaging and even peat substitution.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/peatlands-co2-reservoirs-simultaneous-renaturation-and-use
Renaturalised peatlands as carbon dioxide stores - 14/06/2022 Peatlands as a climate protection factor - binding CO2 instead of releasing it All intact peatlands on our planet store twice the amount of CO2 as all forests. Peatlands are indispensable for preventing and mitigating the effects of climate change. The only problem is that 95 percent of Germany's peatlands have been drained, and thus release around 7 percent of Germany’s total CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Rewetting is therefore imperative for the climate, the environment and biodiversity – and economically…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/peatlands-climate-protection-factor-binding-co2-instead-releasing-it
Mini-factories for producing bioplastics - 05/05/2022 Bacteria produce bioplastics: resource-saving and very environmentally friendly Using living cells as mini-factories to produce plastic from nothing more than water, sunlight and carbon dioxide; plastic that is also 100 percent degradable – it sounds far-fetched but it actually works: researchers at the University of Tübingen have genetically engineered cyanobacteria so that they fill their cells to the brim with polyhydroxybutyrate. The researchers are now turning the idea into reality with the development of pilot plants.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/bacteria-produce-bioplastics-resource-saving-and-very-environmentally-friendly
Filament winding technology for sustainable construction - 06/04/2022 Robotic building with natural fibres One of the greatest challenges in the construction industry is the transition to more environmentally friendly and resource-saving buildings. Researchers at the University of Stuttgart are combining state-of-the-art robotic filament winding technologies with ancient local crops to produce stable and sustainable lightweight structures from flax fibres.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/robotic-building-natural-fibres
Press release - 06/04/2022 Giant grass miscanthus: Bioethanol source with negative CO2 balance European collaborative project led by the University of Hohenheim shows: Combining bioethanol production with carbon storage can effectively reduce CO2.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/giant-grass-miscanthus-bioethanol-source-negative-co2-balance
Press release - 18/03/2022 Less fossil oil in CO2-reducing plastics The "carbonauten minus CO2 factory 1" will start production of 4,000 t of CO2-reducing plastic granules annually at favorable prices in summer 2022.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/weniger-erdoel-co2-senkenden-kunststoffen
Press release - 02/03/2022 Biorefinery project KoalAplan is extracting raw materials from wastewater The Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector is funding the KoalAplan project, which extends the functional scope of a wastewater treatment plant. The project, based in the Stuttgart district of Büsnau, aims at recovering raw materials from wastewater and is therefore making a positive contribution to climate neutrality, as the products obtained replace fossil raw materials and energy-intensive processes.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/biorefinery-project-koalaplan-extracting-raw-materials-wastewater
Press release - 18/01/2022 Metal strip refiner HUEHOCO is a new shareholder of carbonauten and acquires 5 percent of the shares The HUEHOCO GROUP Holding GmbH & Co. KG, a family-owned company from Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia, has acquired a 5 percent stake in carbonauten GmbH. The start-up is in negotiations with further interested parties from Germany and Japan. With the international metal strip refiner HUEHOCO Group, which has sites on 4 continents, the "minus CO2 factory" has acquired its first industrial partner.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/metal-strip-refiner-huehoco-new-shareholder-carbonauten-and-acquires-5-percent-shares
Press release - 13/01/2022 Turning harmful CO2 into useful chemicals Making important raw materials for fine chemicals out of carbon dioxide really works. As part of the Max Planck collaborative project eBioCO2n, a team of researchers from Fraunhofer IGB have successfully performed a first ever fixation of CO2 via a multi-enzyme enzyme reaction driven by electricity yielding a prospective intermediate for the chemical industry. The process for electro-biocatalytic CO2 fixation was recently published and is…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/turning-harmful-co2-useful-chemicals
Renewable raw materials and the circular economy in the textile industry - 08/12/2021 Outdoor equipment made from cellulose, castor oil and coffee grounds - functional and durable VAUDE develops outdoor gear made from natural or recycled materials that are harmless to people and the environment while protecting against the wind and rain. The company relies on renewable raw materials, biobased plastics and the circular economy.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/outdoor-equipment-made-cellulose-castor-oil-and-coffee-grounds-functional-and-durable
Climate-friendly circular economy - 11/11/2021 CO2 from the air as a raw material for chemicals A Fraunhofer team has successfully produced a dye using CO2 adsorbed from the air. The aim is to move towards a climate- and resource-friendly circular economy. Chemicals, as well as fuels, can be produced cost-effectively using this process. How does the technical process work, and what opportunities does it open up?https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/co2-air-raw-material-chemicals
Press release - 01/10/2021 Crucial step identified in the conversion of biomass to methane Researchers find the enzymatic link in the formation of methane from fatty acids by cooperating microorganisms. Microbial production of methane from organic material is an essential process in the global carbon cycle and an important source of renewable energy. This natural process is based on a cooperative interaction between different types of microorganisms: the fermenting bacteria and the methane-producing archaea.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/crucial-step-identified-conversion-biomass-methane
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
Press release - 25/08/2021 Material efficiency holds great potential for climate neutrality and should be utilized more for this purpose An international research team has calculated the potential for material efficiency strategies in residential buildings and passenger cars. Up to two-thirds of global emissions could be saved in these areas, provided that appropriate strategies are consistently implemented.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/material-efficiency-holds-great-potential-climate-neutrality-and-should-be-utilized-more-purpose
Press release - 02/08/2021 CO2 as a raw material for plastics and other products Carbon dioxide is one of the main drivers of climate change – which means that we need to reduce CO2 emissions in the future. Fraunhofer researchers are highlighting a possible way to lower these emissions: They use the greenhouse gas as a raw material, for instance to produce plastics. To do this, they first produce methanol and formic acid from CO2, which they convert via microorganisms into building blocks for polymers and the like.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/co2-raw-material-plastics-and-other-products
Press release - 09/07/2021 Refuels Are Suited for Wide Use Refuels are renewable fuels that can be produced in different ways. When they are mixed and processed such that they meet the existing fuel standards, they are suited for all types of combustion engines. This is the result of the latest vehicle and fleet tests within the project “reFuels – Rethinking Fuels” at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Compared to fully fossil fuels, refuel mixes allow for a CO2 reduction by 25% at least. Moreover,…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/refuels-are-suited-wide-use
Press release - 18/05/2021 BBI JU to invest €104.5 million into circular bio-based projects The Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) has signed the grant agreements with 18 new projects, selected for funding under the 2020 Call for proposals. 199 beneficiaries from 26 countries across the EU and beyond will receive BBI JU’s financial support worth €104.5 million. This is the seventh and last BBI JU call which will bring the total investment of the initiative to €821.6 million and the BBI JU’s portfolio to 142 projects. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/bbi-ju-invest-eur1045-million-circular-bio-based-projects