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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 -
Press release - 23/03/2021 AFYREN and Südzucker reach long term deal to supply factory producing biobased organic acids
AFYREN secures procurement of sugar beet co-products, major feedstock for industrial- scale production of its sustainable chemicals.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/afyren-and-sudzucker-reach-long-term-deal-supply-factory-producing-biobased-organic-acids -
Press release - 30/09/2021 Essity begins tissue production from alternative fibers
Hygiene and health company Essity is today presenting a breakthrough in sustainable tissue production and is beginning production based on pulp from wheat straw. The plant in Mannheim, Germany, is the first of its kind in Europe, and the first on a large-scale tissue production in the world.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/essity-begins-tissue-production-alternative-fibers -
Alpha-Protein GmbH - 27/07/2021 Insect farming for sustainability
Mealworms instead of fish meal and soybean meal - this is what the sustainable future of feed production looks like as Alpha-Protein GmbH see it. The company has built a highly efficient automated production plant in which residual materials from local food production are used to breed mealworms.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/insect-farming-sustainability -
Dossier - 16/06/2014 Biotechnology as a tool for the production of food
Biotechnology opens up numerous opportunities for the food industry. The targeted use of biotechnological methods can help reduce the quantity and number of unhealthy ingredients in foods as well as degrade allergenic substances. Genomic research and targeted breeding also greatly facilitate progress in agriculture. Food biotechnology therefore contributes significantly to saving resources, optimising harvest yields and producing better foods.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/biotechnology-as-a-tool-for-the-production-of-food -
Article - 27/05/2019 Providing Growledge - resources and products for the bioeconomy
Miscanthus and hemp are biomass plants that can be used as raw materials for a wide range of products and can be grown on land areas that are currently underutilised. A European consortium led by the University of Hohenheim in Baden-Württemberg has started a five-year project to demonstrate the economic potential of these plants.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/providing-growledge-resources-and-products-for-the-bioeconomy -
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 -
Dossier - 18/11/2013 Innovative textiles made possible by biotechnology
Biotechnology plays a part in many high-tech fabrics that have become an integral part of our everyday life. Whether it is products for the treatment of wounds, fabrics for marquees or for clothing, many materials have been developed or are produced using biotechnological techniques and processes. Many products marketed as “micro” or “nano” are inspired by nature.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/innovative-textiles-made-possible-by-biotechnology -
Polysecure GmbH - 16/01/2020 Recycling of the future – marked plastic as a circular product
Plastics are harmful to the climate and human health both during manufacture and combustion and they also clutter our planet with garbage. Recycling is therefore a key issue, but it is not efficient. Polysecure has developed a process for permanently marking individual plastics that enables them to be separated efficiently and returned to a circular economy. This would counteract the vast amount of (micro) plastics and reduce CO₂ emissions.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/recycling-of-the-future-marked-plastic-as-a-circular-product -
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 - 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 -
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 -
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 - 30/11/2022 New Business Directory: Renewable Carbon Companies (ReCaCo)
Find companies that already offer fossil carbon free products, made from biomass, CO2 and recycling
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/new-business-directory-renewable-carbon-companies-recaco -
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 -
Producing valuable new products from waste materials - 07/01/2020 A vision: insect biorefineries as components of a sustainable bioeconomy
Eco-friendly and responsibly manufactured products are more in demand than ever before. Specific research is being carried out into materials and applications for a wide variety of uses. The Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB is working with Hermetia Baruth GmbH on the vision of an insect biofactory that uses waste materials to produce a wide range of products such as biosurfactants, animal feed or foils.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/A-vision-insect-biorefineries-as-components-of-a-sustainable-bioeconomy -
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 - 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 -
Article - 10/07/2019 More than just a nut – new products for the bioeconomy
Plants are often used for one particular purpose only. However, walnut trees have much more to offer than just delicious nuts. The AlpBioEco project is studying the potential of walnut trees for the bioeconomy and how the potential can be exploited commercially. The international team of researchers is also focusing on apples and herbs.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/mehr-als-eine-harte-nuss-neue-produkte-fur-die-biookonomie -
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 - 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 -
Outlook on the future of agriculture - 30/11/2020 Agriculture 4.0 - ultramodern and without harmful plant protection products
The demand for organic products is continuing to grow; at the same time nature is being preserved – so why not switch completely to organic farming? The answer is simple: because not everyone can afford it, and with current consumption patterns not everyone would get enough to eat. A cooperative project is researching an an agricultural system that falls between conventional and organic farming.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/Agriculture-4-0-ultramodern-and-without-harmful-plant-protection-products -
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 -
Press release - 23/04/2021 For which plastic products is biodegradation a viable endof- life option?
The BioSinn project found products and applications for which biodegradation at the end-of-life is a real option. 25 fact sheets answer technical and regulatory questions for each application. The market volume of these applications was also estimated: in Germany it is about 170,000 tonnes, in the European Union about 1 million tonnes per year!
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/bei-welchen-kunststoffprodukten-ist-der-biologische-abbau-eine-sinnvolle-end-life-option -
Press release - 07/06/2021 For which plastic products is biodegradation a viable end-of-life option?
The final report including comprehensive fact sheets of 25 applications is now available online in German and English.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/which-plastic-products-biodegradation-viable-end-life-option -
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 - 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 -
Dossier - 23/09/2013 Bioeconomy a new model for industry and the economy
On the one hand, a bioeconomy relies on renewable resources to meet society’s need for food, energy and industrial products. On the other, it emphasises the role of biogenic material flows. The bioeconomy model is expected to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels in the long term. In order to implement the shift to a biobased economy on the regional level, the Baden-Württemberg government launched the Bioeconomy Research Strategy in summer 2013.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/bioeconomy-a-new-model-for-industry-and-the-economy -
Dossier - 30/09/2014 Industrial biotechnology a challenging change to the raw material base
Biogenic raw materials have never been as popular as they are now. Efforts to tap renewable carbon resources are already underway, despite the fact that new oil drilling technologies are boosting fossil fuel stockpiles. In the medium term, industry will have to expand its raw materials base, and in the long term it may have to renew it completely. Industrial biotechnology is one of the key technologies in the transition.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/industrial-biotechnology-a-challenging-change-to-the-raw-material-base -
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 -
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 -
Dossier - 14/05/2012 Biogas a promising source of renewable energy?
In addition to sunlight water and wind biogas is a regenerative source of energy that contributes to saving fossil resources. Germany is home to around 7100 biogas plants including 796 as of 2011 in Baden-Württemberg. In 2010 these facilities produced 11 per cent of the electricity generated from renewables in Germany. Energy-rich methane is the major constituent of biogas and is produced when organic compounds are broken down by bacteria in the…
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/biogas-a-promising-source-of-renewable-energy -
Article - 21/10/2019 Plant pots made of natural fibres – "bio", no ifs or buts
Plastic plant pots are not good for the environment; strictly speaking, they should not even be disposed of in recycling bins. Alternatives such as coconut fibre pots are compostable, but not pollutant-free and not "bio" at all. The Karlsruhe-based company Fiber Engineering has developed a truly ecofriendly way to grow plants: pots made of hemp or grass, which are preserved with biological components and decompose completely within a…
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/pflanztoepfe-aus-naturfasern-bio-ohne-wenn-und-aber -
ROKO Farming - 03/08/2021 Thinking upwards: vertical farming to be further developed into continuous production
ROKO Farming’s novel technology is designed to produce fruit and vegetables worldwide all year round, while also freeing up areas for rewilding. This semi-automatic production method created by the Ulm-based business has huge future potential, as their success in innovation competitions demonstrates.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/thinking-upwards-vertical-farming-be-further-developed-continuous-production -
Plant residues - 14/12/2021 Straw pulp: agricultural residues become sanitary paper products
Straw cannot yet be spun into gold, but in Mannheim, Germany, it is being turned into something else of great value: Essity is the first and only company in Europe to produce toilet paper and kitchen rolls from wheat straw in a new pulp mill. From next year, these sustainable sanitary paper products will be found on supermarket shelves.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/straw-pulp-agricultural-residues-become-sanitary-paper-products -
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 - 09/02/2022 Connecting fibres: The cellulose fibre industry impresses with innovation and vision
The annual highlight of the industry is the International Conference on Cellulose Fibres in Cologne (www.cellulose-fibres.eu), where the latest innovations were showcased last week: new cellulose fibre technologies for various feedstocks and a wide range of hygiene and textile products as well as alternatives to plastics and carbon fibre for lightweight constructions.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/connecting-fibres-cellulose-fibre-industry-impresses-innovation-and-vision -
Press release - 14/12/2021 Carbon fibres from wood - DITF nomination for the "Cellulose Fibre Innovation of the Year" award
For the second time, the nova Institute for Ecology and Innovation is honouring outstanding scientific research that provides sustainable solutions for the cellulose fibre value chain as part of the "International Conference on Cellulose Fibres 2022". The DITF Denkendorf is one of the six nominees.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/carbon-fibres-wood-ditf-nomination-cellulose-fibre-innovation-year-award -
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 - 04/10/2021 European bioeconomy robust as bio-based industry turnover jumps to 780 billion EUR
The bio-based industries continue their ascent marking a total contribution of 780 billion EUR, a notable increase of 30 billion EUR (+ 4%) compared to 2017. This represents a more than 20% increase compared to 2008 which is the earliest data taken into account in this series of reports by nova-Institute. The first report of the series was first commissioned by the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) in 2017.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/european-bioeconomy-robust-bio-based-industry-turnover-jumps-780-billion-eur -
Press release - 14/09/2023 The Cultivated B Initiated Pre-Submission Process towards EFSA Certification for Cultivated Sausage
The Cultivated B (TCB) began discussions with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and officially entered the pre-submission process for novel food approval of a novel or non-farmed sausage product. Subsequent to the official submission, TCB will emerge as world’s first biotech company to apply for EFSA certification for cultivated meat. This is a pivotal first step in the evolution of the cultivated meat market.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/cultivated-b-initiated-pre-submission-process-towards-efsa-certification-cultivated-sausage -
Dossier - 04/03/2019 Sustainable textiles
Baden-Württemberg is known for innovation in textiles and for playing a decisive role in the development of sustainable textiles for the future both in the clothing and the booming technical textile sectors. Companies and research institutes are focused on making the entire textile value chain from raw materials, production and useful life to disposal more sustainable than ever before.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/sustainable-textiles -
Press release - 06/04/2021 Showcase Bioeconomy: Industrial crops make unproductive farmland profitable
European project with participation of the University of Hohenheim investigates how unprofitable fields can be used sustainably while adding value with renewable raw materials.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/schaufenster-biooekonomie-industriepflanzen-machen-unproduktives-ackerland-rentabel -
Article - 11/02/2019 Natural biopolymers - the sustainable almost-all-rounders
Wood pulp as well as hemp and flax are renewable raw materials that can be processed into fibres of a new performance class using innovative technologies. They are environmentally friendly and help to solve waste problems. Products and processes for these fibres of the future are being developed at the DITF Denkendorf. They are suitable for textile and technical applications.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/natural-biopolymers-the-sustainable-almost-all-rounders -
Compostable nappies - 14/10/2021 Nappies for a sustainable bioeconomy
In an EU-funded project, the Tübingen-based biotech company Novis is working with international partners to develop a fully compostable nappy that contains no plastic parts. This could reduce the huge quantities of used disposable nappies that have been produced to date and the enormous costs of disposal, as well as avoiding the greenhouse gases produced when they are incinerated.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/nappies-sustainable-bioeconomy -
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Dossier - 17/11/2021 Biorefinery: new paths to build our tomorrow
Sustainability is in vogue. And it’s not a question of wanting to be sustainable, but having to be: as the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shows, protecting the climate and the environment calls for swift action. Biorefineries that use renewable raw materials and recycle industrial raw materials are playing an important role in the bioeconomy concepts of many countries - including the state of Baden-Württemberg.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/biorefinery-new-paths-build-our-tomorrow -
ProteinDistillery GmbH - 20/04/2022 Using microorganisms to create a source of sustainable protein
Yeast has been part of the human diet for thousands of years. ProteinDistillery GmbH now wants to revolutionise the environmentally friendly protein suppliers market by introducing brewer's yeast and secure the protein supply of the future.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/using-microorganisms-create-source-sustainable-protein -
Press release - 11/10/2023 Land Use: Producing More Food and Storing More Carbon
Doubling food production, saving water, and increasing carbon storage capacity – this may sound paradoxical, but would be theoretically feasible. Reaching this goal, however, would require a radical spatial reorganization of land use. This is the conclusion of researchers from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology (HeiGIT) of Heidelberg University.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/landnutzung-mehr-nahrung-produzieren-und-gleichzeitig-mehr-kohlenstoff-speichern -
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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 - 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 -
Degradable biopolymers - 29/05/2020 Bioplastics make wood cycles more sustainable
Innovative technologies and bacteria can transform wood residues into sustainable bioplastic packaging. Before bioplastics are broken down into CO2 and water in an environmentally friendly way, they can thus lead lives as products in the cosmetics industry, for example.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/bioplastics-make-wood-cycles-more-sustainable -
Specialized in Sustainability - 30/09/2021 The circular economy of the future
The research project RUN (Rural Urban Nutrient Partnership) explores how waste might be used more efficiently as a resource. In this project, Veronika Fendel investigates how recyclable materials from biowaste and domestic wastewater can be fed back into the material cycle in the best possible way.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/circular-economy-future -
Dossier - 25/03/2013 Biotechnology goes automated
Processes that previously required pipetting analysis and production to be carried out manually are increasingly now controlled by automated systems. However this has not necessarily involved a complete reinvention of the wheel instead automation systems used in the plant construction and mechanical engineering sectors are being adapted and optimised for application in the life sciences.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/biotechnology-goes-automated -
Paper production from plant fibres - 20/01/2021 In one cycle: ecopaper, energy and fertiliser made from Silphium perfoliatum
Many consumers don't care about exactly how their paper packaging is made and what it is made of as long as it is "eco". But even producing recycled paper, trees need to be felled. An alternative could be paper made from cup plant. Together with partners, a company called Silphie Paper has developed concept for obtaining fibres for a new type of grass paper, while also producing heat, energy and nutrients for natural fertilisers.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/one-cycle-ecopaper-energy-and-fertiliser-made-silphium-perfoliatum -
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 -
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 -
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 -
Preventing waste from instant meals - 05/10/2023 EDGGY: edible packaging film made from eggshell waste
Many instant meals such as ramen soups have both a protective outer packaging and individual ingredients in small plastic sachets. To prevent this environmentally harmful waste, five students at the University of Hohenheim have developed a sustainable film based on eggshells and plant proteins that dissolves in hot water and is edible.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/edggy-edible-packaging-film-made-eggshell-waste -
Dossier - 09/04/2018 Digitisation in agriculture - from precision farming to farming 4.0
Automated steering systems, data-driven targeted application of fertilisers and pesticides, field robots and drones, soil analysis sensors, autonomous driving - digitisation is advancing in agriculture as elsewhere. The question asked by farmers and by society in general is whether the increasing adoption of digital technologies in agriculture is a curse or a blessing.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/digitisation-in-agriculture-from-precision-farming-to-farming-40 -
Dossier - 15/04/2019 The alternative: “bioplastics”
Plastic waste takes years to decompose and pollutes the environment. Nevertheless, plastics are an indispensable part of everyday life. It is therefore all the more important to find a meaningful alternative that is sustainable, environmentally friendly and has better properties and more functionality than conventional plastics. In addition, such an alternative should not be dependent in any way on fossil resources.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/the-alternative-bioplastics -
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 -
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 - 26/09/2023 Local Food Systems: How sustainable are the business models for local food chains?
Mobile units for processing fruit and vegetables on-site may play an important role in food supply in 2035. The EU’s FOX project investigated the form that such local food chains might take. To this end, Fraunhofer ISI developed future scenarios that could be used to test the viability of business models for regional food processing and distribution.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/local-food-systems-how-sustainable-are-business-models-local-food-chains -
Perspectives of methane as energy source - 18/06/2020 New technologies for using biogas as a balancing energy
The microorganisms in biogas plants do a great job biologically converting CO₂ and hydrogen, which are primary fermentation products, into methane. Biomethane has a great future as an energy source. Scientists at the University of Hohenheim are investigating new ways to produce and use biomethane.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/new-technologies-for-using-biogas-as-balancing-energy -
The “Rhizo-Lentil" EIP-AGRI project - 20/05/2020 NovoCarbo turns plant waste into biochar
NovoCarbo GmbH produces biochar from plant residues such as wood chips, nutshells and manure. Different feedstocks, and the way these materials are processed, create biochars with different properties. This makes biochar suitable for different uses, including as a soil conditioner, in biogas plants or as bedding for stables and cowsheds. The Rhizo-Linse project is currently investigating whether biochar is also suitable as inoculant carrier for…
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/novocarbo-turns-plant-waste-into-biochar -
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 - 18/03/2021 DBFZ presents exensively expanded online database on biogenic raw materials
Systematically prepared and easily accessible research data can provide an essential basis for decision-making for a wide range of stakeholders from politics, science and industry. The resource database developed by the DBFZ, which contains a wealth of information on various biomass potentials and their current use, has been extensively expanded and is now also available in two languages (DE/EN) with a variety of new functionalities.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/dbfz-presents-exensively-expanded-online-database-biogenic-raw-materials -
pre-start-up company Wheyfinery - 13/04/2022 Acid whey as a valuable raw material for platform chemicals and more
There is not much you can do with acid whey, which is why several million litres of it are disposed of every year. This is both costly and not sustainable. However, researchers at Tübingen University have shown: acid whey can be used to produce precursors for biofuels, fine chemicals and antimicrobial livestock feed additives. They have set up the pre-start-up company Wheyfinery in an endeavour to make their scalable biorefinery concept…
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/acid-whey-valuable-raw-material-platform-chemicals-and-more -
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 -
Dossier - 01/10/2012 Systems biology understanding complex biological systems
Systems biology studies complex interactions within biological systems on the genome proteome and organelle level. Many techniques from the fields of systems theory and associated fields can be used to gain an understanding of the behaviour and biological mechanisms of cellular systems.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/systems-biology-understanding-complex-biological-systems