Press release - 03/05/2023 Organic-based coating with innovative functional properties is suitable for packaging and food products Sustainability is a major challenge in the food and packaging industry. Plastic packaging is being replaced by organic-based and biodegradable materials, but it must still fulfill high functional requirements. A team of researchers at the University of Hohenheim has developed a new coating system that is both water-impermeable, heat-resistant, and mechanically durable as well as being suitable for consumption, and biodegradable at the same time.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/organic-based-coating-innovative-functional-properties-suitable-packaging-and-food-products
Press release - 02/05/2023 Tenure-track professorship for Soft Machines established Milana will strengthen the research of the Cluster of Excellence Living, Adaptive and Energy-autonomous Materials (livMatS) in the field and work closely with scientists from the Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT) and the Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF).https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/tenure-track-professur-fuer-soft-machines-eingerichtet
Press release - 25/04/2023 Jellyfish-like robots could one day clean up the world’s oceans Roboticists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart have developed a jellyfish-inspired underwater robot with which they hope one day to collect waste from the bottom of the ocean. The almost noise-free prototype can trap objects underneath its body without physical contact, thereby enabling safe interactions in delicate environments such as coral reefs. Jellyfish-Bot could become a tool for environmental remediation.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/jellyfish-robots-could-one-day-clean-worlds-oceans
City of the future - 04/04/2023 FamoS: climate protection on facades Resource-efficient water management, photovoltaic modules and innovative facade greening - FamoS is all that. By combining proven elements, the ‘facade module with synergy’ makes a valuable contribution to combatting climate change and boosting climate resilience in cities.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/famos-climate-protection-facades
Press release - 15/02/2023 Sustainable Use of Phosphorus: DFG Extends German-Chinese Research Training Group Around 7 million euros to promote more sustainable use of the world's limited phosphate supply: The German-Chinese Research Training Group AMAIZE-P can continue its research on phosphorus as one of the most important nutrient elements for plants. The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved a second funding period of another 4.5 years.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/sustainable-use-phosphorus-dfg-extends-german-chinese-research-training-group
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 - 15/12/2022 Taking responsibility to protect biodiversity The launch of the global Nature Positive Universities initiative was announced at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15), held in Montreal, Canada, in December 2022. The University of Konstanz is one of more than one hundred universities from all five continents joining the initiative. The common goal is to address the university's own impact on nature and to identify and implement effective measures to halt and reverse the loss of…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/verantwortung-uebernehmen-zum-schutz-der-biodiversitaet
With insects to the circular economy - 30/11/2022 InBiRa: Insect biorefinery turns food leftovers into new products Insect larvae can convert food leftovers and waste into secondary raw materials for technical products and cosmetics. Researchers are looking to establish an insect biorefinery for this purpose at the Fraunhofer IGB in Stuttgart. The InBiRa project is financed with a total of 3.8 million euros in EU and Baden-Württemberg state funding.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/inbira-insect-biorefinery-turns-food-leftovers-new-products
Press release - 29/11/2022 Five European pilot regions are joining forces for the bioeconomy BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg participates in the Horizon Europe ROBIN project to improve the participation of regional bioeconomy strategies and related policies across Europe.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/fuenf-europaeische-pilotregionen-schliessen-sich-fuer-die-biooekonomie-zusammen
Lentil cleaning - EIP-AGRI Rhizo-Linse project - 26/04/2022 Lentil cleaning in the Altdorf mill The Altdorf mill, just under 7 km south of the city of Böblingen, has operated lentil cleaning facilities since 2019, the year that the Sessler mill in Renningen, 20 km further north, ceased all operations including lentil cleaning. After receiving a number of enquiries from farmers and local mills, brothers Karl and Jörg Ruthardt took a chance and launched a lentil cleaning operation in addition to their mill and farm shop business.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/lentil-cleaning-altdorf-mill
Press release - 06/04/2022 High-tech bridge built with flax The University of Stuttgart is contributing to innovations for climate protection as part of the EU project "Smart Circular Bridge". An old material is being rediscovered: flax has been with us for thousands of years in the form of clothing, sacks, and robust ship's ropes. Now the plant fibres are experiencing a renaissance and could become the building material of the future. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/high-tech-bruecke-mit-flachs-gebaut
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
Natural fibers in use - 15/02/2022 Sustainable reinforcement of e-bike battery cases Ansmann AG from Assamstadt provides mobile energy solutions with a focus on sustainability. The BioBattery project, which was awarded the Baden-Württemberg Bioeconomy Innovation Prize, saw Ansmann AG working with the Fraunhofer LBF in Darmstadt to develop a natural fibre reinforced plastic composite for use in e-bike battery cases.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/sustainable-reinforcement-e-bike-battery-cases
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 - 12/01/2022 From insect carapace to sustainable building material Chitin is the main component of insect carapaces and ensures that they are both stable and flexible. The Chitinfluid research project, funded by the Carl Zeiss Foundation, focuses on the use of chitin in construction and aims to process chitin and its derivatives into sustainable materials. In a hybrid symposium under the auspices of Prof. Sabine Laschat from the University of Stuttgart, the project team discussed the current state of research…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/insect-carapace-sustainable-building-material
Press release - 07/12/2021 Best Global Universities Ranking 2022: University of Hohenheim Remains No. 1 in Agricultural Research & Food Sciences Once again Germany's no. 1 in agricultural research as well as food and nutritional science: The University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart. It remains in 7th place in Europe and comes in 34th place worldwide. This is the result of the latest Best Global Universities ranking by the U.S. magazine U.S. News & World Report in cooperation with Clarivate.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/best-global-universities-ranking-2022-uni-hohenheim-bleibt-nr-1-agrarforschung-food-sciences
Upcycling of lignin - 26/10/2021 Bioeconomic model project: vanillin from process industry residues Extracting vanillin from lignin dissolved in black liquor and developing it into a process that can be scaled up for industry is a bioeconomic approach that researchers at Biberach University of Applied Sciences and Ulm University are pursuing in a five-year project.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/bioeconomic-model-project-vanillin-process-industry-residues
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
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
Start-up kernique catch the zeitgeist - 29/06/2021 Nut snack as a sustainable ecological concept A delicious vegan nut snack that uses no sugar, artificial additives, gluten or palm oil, is full of essential nutrients, and is part of a commitment to environmental and social sustainability. Impossible? An Esslingen-based start-up called kernique proves otherwise. The start-up is currently planning a crowdfunding phase that offers a lucrative deal for investors. The idea catches the zeitgeist, but what exactly makes it stand out?https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/nut-snack-sustainable-ecological-concept
Zero Bullshit Company - 31/05/2021 From being thrown away to becoming a recycled product - Stuttgart start-up produces healthy snacks Throwing away food? The Stuttgart-based start-up Zero Bullshit Company is declaring war on food wastage by making nutrient-rich products largely from food industry leftovers. The three food technologists who created this transparent brand are looking to develop more than just delicious and nutritious products.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/being-thrown-away-becoming-recycled-product-stuttgart-start-produces-healthy-snacks
Press release - 27/05/2021 Coffee´s pulp waste becomes organic compost The pulp of coffee beans is considered a waste product on coffee plantations, which is usually thrown away or dumped into rivers - with significant negative consequences for climate change and the environment. Macarena San Martín-Ruiz from the University of Stuttgart is working with Coopetarrazú, the largest coffee cooperative in Costa Rica, to find out how the mixture of pulp and husks can be turned into organic compost and thus protect the…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/coffee-s-pulp-waste-becomes-organic-compost
Press release - 23/04/2021 The Amazing Field of Science: Bioeconomy to End the Ecological Crisis Population growth and the increasing standard of living make our society face big ecological challenges: Climate change, littering of the seas, dwindling agricultural areas, resource scarcity. Bioeconomy aims at replacing fossil by regenerative resources and at using advanced and sustainable technologies based on biological knowledge and principles.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/amazing-field-science-bioeconomy-end-ecological-crisis
Paper technology - 10/03/2021 PLAFCO – a sustainable plastic substitute made from paper Plastic is indispensable: it is cheap and practical and found in many disposable products such as drinking straws, disposable tableware or even packaging like bonded beverage cartons or bags – and it has a disastrous effect on the environment. The start-up company Plafco Fibertech Oy has developed a sustainable plastic substitute made of paper that could replace many disposable plastic products in the future.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/plafco-sustainable-plastic-substitute-made-paper