Press release - 27/09/2023 Raw material requirements for reducing global poverty calculated for the first time Researchers at the University of Freiburg quantify the amount of material needed to enable people to live without poverty. 1.2 billion people live in poverty. To lift them out of it, an average of about six tons of raw materials are needed per person and year – in particular minerals, fossil fuels, biomass and metal ores. This is the result of a study by researchers from the Chair of Sustainable Energy and Material Flow Management.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/raw-material-requirements-reducing-global-poverty-calculated-first-time
Event - 30/10/2023 - 03/11/2023 Delegation trip "biointelligent production" to Israel Israel, delegation trip https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/events/delegation-trip-biointelligent-production-israel
Press release - 07/08/2023 Vegan trend in Europe: In Germany, milk substitutes from plants are most popular alternative Germany has the most active market, Southern Europe wants more variety, and people in Poland find dairy substitutes too expensive, according to a recent study by the University of Hohenheim.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/vegan-trend-europe-germany-milk-substitutes-plants-are-most-popular-alternative
Press release - 27/07/2023 Self-healing plastic becomes biodegradable Konstanz chemists develop mineral plastics with numerous positive properties from sustainable basic building blocks and, together with biologists, demonstrate the material's excellent microbiological degradability.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/Self-healing-plastic-becomes-biodegradable
Press release - 27/07/2023 Materials Research: Biocatalytic Foams of Tremendous Stability and Activity Industrial biocatalysis with enzymes is deemed to be a “game changer” in the development of a sustainable chemical industry. Enzymes can be used to synthesize an impressive range of complex molecules. Researchers of KIT have now developed a new class of materials by producing enzyme foams of tremendous stability and activity. The researchers have already filed a patent application on the process to produce enzyme foams.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/materials-research-biocatalytic-foams-tremendous-stability-and-activity
Press release - 21/07/2023 Biosurfactants might offer an environmentally friendly solution for tackling oil spills Can biosurfactants increase microbiological oil degradation in North Sea seawater? An international research team from the universities of Stuttgart und Tübingen, together with the China West Normal University and the University of Georgia, have been exploring this question and the results have revealed the potential for a more effective and environmentally friendly oil spill response.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/biosurfactants-might-offer-environmentally-friendly-solution-tackling-oil-spills
Press release - 18/07/2023 Robotically manufactured timber construction as a model for resource-efficient construction As the world's population continues to grow, the construction industry faces the challenge of using fewer resources and switching to sustainable materials. Scientists from the Universities of Stuttgart and Freiburg are developing new interdisciplinary approaches to construction for the future. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/robotically-manufactured-timber-construction-model-resource-efficient-construction
Press release - 12/07/2023 Danger for the world's oceans and biodiversity Insightful study with participation from the University of Konstanz warns of human-induced impacts on the marine ecosystem.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/gefahr-fuer-weltmeere-und-biodiversitaet
Innovative materials - 14/06/2023 Reinventing ‘wood’ with programmable bacteria Conserving wood by producing furniture and other objects from wood-based materials with the help of microorganisms? That is exactly what a team of researchers from the University of Freiburg and the Leibniz Institute for New Materials (INM) in Saarbrücken is working on in the DELIVER project. The aim is to create a database of materials with a broad range of controllable properties for various applications that can be produced from wood waste.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/reinventing-wood-programmable-bacteria
Press release - 30/05/2023 Light conveyed by the signal transmitting molecule sucrose controls growth of plant roots Team of Freiburg researchers shows how information about the quantity of absorbed light passes from the leaves to the roots. Plant growth is driven by light and supplied with energy through photosynthesis by green leaves. It is the same for roots that grow in the dark – they receive the products of photosynthesis, in particular sucrose, i.e. sugar, via the central transportation pathways of phloem.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/licht-steuert-das-wachstum-von-pflanzenwurzeln-vermittelt-durch-das-signalmolekuel-saccharose
Press release - 24/05/2023 Finally delicious: New proteins to revolutionize gluten-free baked goods Daisies, peas, canola, etc.: Researchers at the University of Hohenheim want to replace gluten protein with new alternatives. Instead of ovens, 3-D printers would be possiblehttps://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/endlich-lecker-neue-proteine-sollen-glutenfreie-backwaren-revolutionieren
3D-Thermocell project - 17/05/2023 Paper instead of plastic: sustainable packaging with a good conscience Replacing plastic – for example in packaging – is not that easy but nevertheless urgently needed. In the 3D-Thermocell project, researchers at DHBW Karlsruhe are currently developing new plastic substitute products made of thermoformable paper as a renewable resource, which should be cheap and light and easy to dispose of along with waste paper. The characterisation and application of demonstration models will start soon.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/paper-instead-plastic-sustainable-packaging-good-conscience
Press release - 16/05/2023 Biocomposite at the Venice Architecture Biennale This year's Venice Architecture Biennale sees itself as a "Laboratory of the Future". Bio-composites are not just dreams of the future in architecture. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) have developed a sustainable material for support profiles and connecting nodes, which will be on display at Palazzo Mora during the Biennale from May 20 to November 26. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/bioverbundwerkstoff-auf-der-architektur-biennale-venedig
Diatoms as a biorefinery - 05/05/2023 Microalgae: sustainable chemical production in a mini factory Renewable raw materials that can be used as alternatives to fossil resources already exist. However, to turn them into everyday products, plant oils and other renewable raw materials not only have to be extracted, but often have to undergo complex chemical processing. Researchers at the University of Konstanz have now converted microalgae cells into tiny refineries to produce and upgrade raw materials, creating a supply of sustainable chemicals.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/microalgae-sustainable-chemical-production-mini-factory
Press release - 03/05/2023 Rapeseed makes more than just oil – it’s a source of proteins too At the Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes CBP in Leuna, Germany, representatives from politics, research and industry opened a novel pilot plant for the mild processing of rapeseed to increase the added-value potential of rape as a raw material.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/nicht-nur-oel-auch-proteine-aus-raps
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 - 26/04/2023 Simply EGG-genious: Students invent edible packaging from eggshells Ready-made meals are ideal for quickly satisfying hunger. However, the quick snacks produce a lot of environmentally harmful plastic waste. To tackle this problem, the student team EDGGY from the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart rolled up its sleeves and developed edible packaging made from eggshells and other plant-based raw materials. And even better: they simply dissolve in the hot water and can be eaten as an additional protein boost. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/Simply-EGG-genious-Students-invent-edible-packaging-from-eggshells
Press release - 21/04/2023 CELLUN - A fiber composite made from biopolymers In collaboration with the project partners CG TEC, Cordenka, ElringKlinger, Fiber Engineering and Technikum Laubholz, the DITF are developing a new fiber composite material (CELLUN) with reinforcing fibers made of cellulose. The matrix of the material is a thermoplastic cellulose derivative. CELLUN made from renewable biopolymers enables the replacement of glass or carbon fibers in the production of industrial molded parts.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/cellun-fiber-composite-made-biopolymers
Press release - 30/03/2023 Green composite material made from flax and chitosan Composite materials provide stability in aircraft parts, sports equipment, and everyday household items. However, most of these materials have a poor carbon footprint and are not naturally degradable. A more sustainable alternative has been developed by a team from the University of Stuttgart. This completely bio-based composite material is made of flax fibers and the biopolymer chitosan.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/green-composite-material-made-flax-and-chitosan
Sustainable construction - 28/03/2023 Digital manufacturing processes enable buildings to be constructed with flax and willow A switch to sustainable and circular construction concepts is needed to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the construction sector. At the German National Garden Show (Bundesgartenschau) in Mannheim, FibR GmbH, together with researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, will be showcasing two innovative buildings made from flax and willow, renewable raw materials that exemplify possible building concepts of the future.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/digital-manufacturing-processes-enable-buildings-be-constructed-flax-and-willow
Press release - 10/03/2023 Carbon fibres from lignin - a new process for economical production A novel, both environmentally friendly and cost-saving process for the production of carbon fibers from lignin has been developed at DITF. It is characterized by high energy-saving potential. The avoidance of solvents and the use of natural raw materials make the process environmentally friendly.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/carbon-fibres-lignin-new-process-economical-production
Press release - 08/03/2023 Green gold: Torrefied biomass to replace coal and oil In February, the Estonian-based startup New Standard Oil successfully commissioned their first industrial-scale prototype for drying and torrefaction of biogenic feedstock operating with superheated steam at atmospheric pressure.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/green-gold-torrefied-biomass-replace-coal-and-oil
Press release - 28/02/2023 The Tech4Biowaste database: Getting biowaste conversion technologies out of the dark The Tech4Biowaste database will be showcased online by its developers on 30 March 2023https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/tech4biowaste-database-getting-biowaste-conversion-technologies-out-dark
Press release - 23/02/2023 Protecting the climate during textile production: polyester fibers bind CO2 Start for an EU-wide collaborative project: Under the leadership of the French company Fairbrics SAS, 17 project partners from 7 European countries are coming together. The common goal is to produce end products from polyester in a closed cycle using industrial CO2 emissions and to bring them to market maturity. The DITF produce synthetic fibers from plastics of non-fossil origin.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/protecting-climate-during-textile-production-polyester-fibers-bind-co2
Press release - 23/02/2023 New tailwind for renewable carbon plastics in EU policy? nova-Institute’s take on the recently published EU proposal for a Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation as well as the new policy framework for biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/new-tailwind-renewable-carbon-plastics-eu-policy
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
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
Funding Renewable Material of the Year 2023 Competition, Funded by: nova-Institut GmbH, sb_search.searchresult.label.programSubmissionDate: 28/02/2023 https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/databases/funding/renewable-material-year-2023
Funding ACCELERATE Programme Funding programme, Funded by: Grünhof GmbH, sb_search.searchresult.label.programSubmissionDate: 12/02/2023 https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/databases/funding/accelerate-programm
Raw materials from wastewater - 21/12/2022 Wastewater treatment plants as biorefineries: the RoKKa project RoKKa, a joint project coordinated by the Fraunhofer IGB, is testing methods for recovering raw materials such as phosphorus and nitrogen compounds to produce fertiliser from municipal and industrial wastewater in a climate-neutral way. These new methods are being investigated under real conditions at wastewater treatment plants in the Ulm area with a view to developing them into sustainable biorefineries.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/wastewater-treatment-plants-biorefineries-rokka-project
Press release - 20/12/2022 Strong and biodegradable A polyester plastic of great mechanical stability, which is also easily recyclable and even compostable: Stefan Mecking, chemist at the University of Konstanz, and his research group present a new material.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/strong-and-biodegradable
Start-up 'Innovation Matters' - 19/12/2022 Saffron cultivation in Germany - sustainable with support from robots Saffron is one of the most expensive spices in the world, because picking it involves a complex manual process. This treasure therefore comes to us mostly from countries such as Iran with poor working conditions and low wages. A start-up company called Innovation Matters from Baden-Württemberg is now developing a robot-assisted, automated process that will make saffron cultivation attractive in Germany as well as ecological and fair.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/saffron-cultivation-germany-sustainable-support-robots
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
Press release - 08/12/2022 Leibniz-Prize for Prof. Achim Menges The German Research Foundation (DFG) has awarded the 2023 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize to Prof. Achim Menges, head of the Institute for Computational Design and Construction at the University of Stuttgart. The award, which is endowed with EUR 2.5 million, is considered by many the most important research prize in Germany.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/leibniz-preis-fuer-prof-achim-menges
Press release - 30/11/2022 Proposed new packaging rules acknowledge environmental and climate benefits of compostable plastic packaging European Bioplastics (EUBP) begrüßt die von der Europäischen Kommission verabschiedeten Entwürfe für neue Verpackungs- und Biokunststoffvorschriften. „Wir begrüßen das erste umfassende politische Rahmenwerk der Kommission für innovative Biokunststoffe, das deren Potenzial für einen positiven Beitrag zur Umwelt anerkennt.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/proposed-new-packaging-rules-acknowledge-environmental-and-climate-benefits-compostable-plastic-packaging
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
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 Monitoring the Bioeconomy – The BioMonitor Project BioMonitor addresses the information gap in bioeconomy research by re-structuring existing data and modelling framework. After more than four years of great scientific collaboration, the 17 partners share their results.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/monitoring-bioeconomy-biomonitor-project
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 - 29/11/2022 Prototype funding for two Konstanz projects Chemical building blocks from plastic waste; Reducing the risk of falls using virtual orientation aids: Konstanz chemists Manuel Häußler and Lukas Odenwald as well as sport scientist Lorenz Assländer receive Baden-Württemberg prototype funding for their transfer projects "Waste2DCA" and "Augmented Balance".https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/doppelter-erfolg-der-prototypenfoerderung
Press release - 16/11/2022 Joint research and development project improves herbicide treatment with high-performance sensors Optical technologies & artificial intelligence: University of Hohenheim, Bosch, Amazonen-Werke, and BASF Digital Farming conducts research into high-performance sensors for smart herbicide treatmenthttps://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/joint-research-and-development-project-improves-herbicide-treatment-high-performance-sensors
Press release - 15/11/2022 Unique insights into flow behavior Pharmaceutical products, medicine, proteins, and nutrients are usually produced on an industrial scale in a bioreactor. Although the technology is well established, more research is needed in order to be able to increase the production volumes. A visual inspection of the production is usually not possible because bioreactors are made of opaque steel.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/unique-insights-flow-behavior
Press release - 21/10/2022 Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung supports research project on wood-based materials at the University of Freiburg The Carl Zeiss Foundation is funding the "DELIVER - Data-driven Engineering of Sustainable Living Materials" project at the University of Freiburg in its "CZS Wildcard" program. In the project, scientists from the Freiburg Clusters of Excellence CIBSS and livMatS will develop sustainable wood-based materials whose properties can be precisely controlled.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/carl-zeiss-stiftung-foerdert-forschungsvorhaben-der-universitaet-freiburg-zu-holzbasierten-werkstoffen
Dossier - 19/10/2022 More food sustainability: crucial for people and for the environment Strawberries in winter and imported apples? You can find them in most supermarkets. This is not sustainable. Looking to the future, the way we eat needs to change in many mundane ways – and this needs to happen quickly so that future generations will also be able to enjoy a planet that is worth living on. In Baden-Württemberg, alternative nutrition concepts are being worked at pace. Many creative ideas and innovative products already exist.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/more-food-sustainability-crucial-people-and-environment
Press release - 10/10/2022 Recyclable food packaging: quality control for nanocoatings Across the EU, more than 300 billion items of packaging are not recycled every year because they consist of a mixture of different materials. Monomaterial packaging on the other hand is easy to recycle. However, it needs to be coated with ultra-thin barrier layers to protect delicate products just as well as compound materials do. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/recyclingfaehige-lebensmittelverpackungen-qualitaetskontrolle-von-nanobeschichtungen
Press release - 06/10/2022 New Electrolysis Processes for Sustainable Chemical Production Basic chemicals, which are needed as raw materials for a wide range of products such as medicines and detergents, can currently only be produced with an enormously high input of energy and raw materials. In many cases, fossil fuels and raw materials are still used. The extraction of chemical substances alone requires high temperatures, expensive catalysts made of precious metals and, in some cases, environmentally harmful starting materials. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/neue-elektrolyseverfahren-fuer-eine-nachhaltige-chemische-produktion
Büsnau biorefinery - 05/10/2022 KoalAplan: municipal wastewater as a source of recyclable materials Our wastewater not only contains dirt and excretions, but is also rich in carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, which can be recovered. A sewage plant can thus become a source of raw materials. In the KoalAplan project, a new type of biorefinery will be used to convert the carbon recovered from wastewater into sustainable products.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/koalaplan-municipal-wastewater-source-recyclable-materials
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 - 12/09/2022 Bioeconomy between food and energy crisis - Opinion of the Bioeconomy Council In its statement of September 2, 2022, the Bioeconomy Council of the German government condemns the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine and points out ways in which the resulting food and energy crisis can be alleviated with the help of the bioeconomy.https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/biooekonomie-zwischen-ernaehrungs-und-energiekrise-stellungnahme-des-biooekonomierats
Project BW2Pro - 29/08/2022 Biowaste to Products: biorefinery transforms biowaste into new products In 2020, Germany’s population collected over 5 million tonnes of biowaste. Most of this was composted, and some was fermented into biogas. Scientists in Baden-Württemberg think there's room for more. Within the project ‘Biowaste to Products’ (BW2Pro) they want to transform biowaste into new products in a biorefinery. The idea is to produce biodegradable plant pots, mulch material, fertilisers, enzymes and biobased plastics in addition to…https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/biowaste-products-biorefinery-transforms-biowaste-new-products