Major Stories
Learnings from the Earnings – Who’s Up? Who’s Down?
The lucky 13 – with spring comes a sense of renewal and this season these lucky 13 bioeconomy bellwethers recently shared their 2018 and Q4 earnings to reveal uncertainties with trade wars, especially between the U.S. and China, some deals that fell through impacting losses, and pricing issues. But all is not lost as there […]
Plant and algae-based tuna, lignin plastic alternative, rice husks in architecture, seaweed T-shirt and lube, jute and kenaf composites and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of March 21st
The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of March 21st In today’s Digest, plant and algae-based tuna, lignin plastic alternative, rice husks in architecture, seaweed T-shirt and lube, jute and kenaf composites — these and more, ready for you now at The […]
Brazil’s GranBio Acquires USA’s American Process
Acquisitions are often big news but the latest announcement of Brazil-based GranBio’s acquisition of Georgia-based American Process Inc. is particularly fascinating. The acquisition of American Process Inc’s technologies, intellectual property portfolio and physical assets strengthens GranBio’s market position in the deployment of highly competitive industrial processes for conversion of biomass to renewable fuels, chemicals, and […]
Biomanufacturing as a Service: Culture Biosciences lands Series A for its bioreactors accessed via the Cloud
In California, a new company has launched called Culture Biosciences and today we’d like to take you inside it. It’s a story about making the bioeconomy radically more efficient at the point of developing and deploying product, by offering Biomanufacturing-as-a-Service. This month, Culture Bio, based in the industrial biotech hub of South San Francisco, nabbed […]
Light My Fire and prickly pear bioplastics, biobased paraxylene, black phosphorus biocomposite, Tide and Terracycle’s eco-box and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of March 14th
The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of March 14th. In today’s Digest, Light My Fire and prickly pear bioplastics, biobased paraxylene, black phosphorus biocomposite, Tide and Terracycle’s eco-box. #1 Light My Fire moves entire product line to biobased plastics In Sweden, […]
8-Slide Guides
Ingredients and Innovations: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Corbion
Corbion is a global market leader in lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives, and a leading company in emulsifiers, functional enzyme blends, minerals, vitamins and algae ingredients. In 2018, Corbion generated annual sales of € 897.2 million and had a workforce of 2,040 FTE. Corbion’s recent investor presentation offers an overview of their two lines of […]
Disruptive Technologies: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Praj Industries
Praj Industries is an end-to-end solutions provider in the ethanol arena from concept to commissioning and feedstock handling to effluent treatment. They have technology and engineering solutions for biofuels, biochemicals and water. Dr. Pramod Kumbhar, Chief Technology Officer at Praj Industries offers this illuminating overview of their latest achievements and developments including bench and pilot […]
Methane to Chemicals: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to iMicrobes
Industrial Microbes upgrades methane to various multi-carbon chemicals using synthetic biology. Noah Helman, CSO and Co-Founder of iMicrobes gave this illuminating overview of methane as a feedstock, the breakthrough in active MMO in E.coli that has allowed easier methane to methanol conversion, and more at ABLC Global 2018 in San Francisco
Biomass for Bioenergy: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to IEA Bioenergy
International Energy Agency is an autonomous organization that works to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its 30 member countries and beyond. Professor Mark Brown, Director of Forest Industries Research Centre – USC, IEA Bioenergy Exco Rep for Australia, and Task Leader for the IEA Bioenergy Task on Biomass Supply, gave this illuminating overview […]
Beginning with the End in Mind: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Due Diligence
Lee Enterprises Consulting is the world’s largest bioeconomy consulting group with over 100 subject matter experts (SME’s) in all areas of the bioeconomy. Doug Rivers, Ph.D., from Sunflwr Consulting and a member of Lee Enterprises Consulting, offers this overview of considerations for due diligence, figuring out where your technology readiness level is, risk mitigation tips, […]
The Latest World News
NEXT Renewable Fuels selects 94 acres for green diesel facility
In Oregon, NEXT Renewable Fuels selected 94 acres to lease from the Port of Columbia County for development of the company’s Advanced Green Diesel production facility. This 94-acre parcel, which is currently being rezoned, is adjacent to the 25-acre parcel NEXT recently purchased from the Teevin Bros, providing a contiguous 119-acre site where NEXT will […]
Sealed Air and Kuraray expand plant-based food packaging production facility
In North Carolina, Sealed Air Corporation is investing in capacity at its Simpsonville, S.C. facility to produce plant-based food packaging. This facility will be the first in North America to produce materials made from Plantic plant-based resin and post-consumer plastic. Simpsonville is one of the world’s largest packaging plants with over 1,000 employees and 1.4 […]
Elevance and Stahl collaborate on bio-based coatings
In Illinois, Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc., producer of novel, high-performing specialty chemicals from renewable feedstocks, has signed a supply agreement with Stahl, global leader in leather chemicals and high-performance coatings. The agreement enables Stahl to commercialize new coatings and Polyurethanes Dispersions (PUDs) based on Elevance’s C18 Polyol technology. Stahl and Elevance have collaborated since 2016 […]
Lallemand and Toyota sign agreement for new cellulosic yeast strains
In Georgia, Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits signed an agreement with Toyota Motor Corporation to produce and market a new portfolio of yeast strains “TOYOTA XyloAce” for cellulosic ethanol production in North America. Toyota, through the use of gene recombination technology, has recently developed new yeast strains that will play an important role in the […]
New biofuel from cactus plants called “green gold”
In Mexico, Nopalimex is taking the prickly pear cactus, or Opuntia, pulping its flesh, fermenting it and mixing it with manure to create methane and water and converting it to biofuel. Nopalimex is now supplying the fuel to Zitácuaro city authorities to use in a fleet of its vehicles, according to World Economic Forum. “At […]
R&D News
Cricket bacteria breaks down lignin – Opens pathways for biofuels
In North Carolina, researchers at North Carolina State University discovered that a bacterium found in camel crickets is capable of breaking down lignin – the stuff that makes wood tough – opening new research pathways for the development of biofuels and chemical manufacturing. The study also highlights the potential inherent in using ecosystem analysis as […]
Chinese researchers develop energy-dense aviation biofuel from cellulosic feedstock
In China, researchers at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics have developed an energy-dense drop-in aviation biofuel using cellulosic feedstocks that they say will allow planes to fly further than using conventional aviation fuel, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions during takeoff and landing. With 10% more energy density than conventional aviation fuel, the researchers […]
University of Finland research develops device to measure radioactive methane
In Finland, a researcher at the University of Finland has taken a first step towards creating a precise measuring device for radioactive methane. The new method is an optical one based on spectroscopy. Previously, radioactive methane has been measured with accelerator mass spectrometry, involving expensive and huge machines. Optical measuring could be a cheaper and […]
Berkeley Lab researchers show sustainable aviation biofuel can be competitive with A1 Jet
In California, a new analysis by scientists at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) shows that sustainable plant-based bio-jet fuels could provide a competitive alternative to conventional petroleum fuels if current development and scale-up initiatives continue to push ahead successfully. “Techno-economic analysis and life-cycle greenhouse gas mitigation cost of five routes to […]
Slovenia’s BioApp to become research focal point for developing smart biomass materials with Italy
In Slovenia, ERDF-funded BioApp platform has become the focal point for research ideas on developing smart biomass materials in the cross-border region of Slovenia and Italy. The EU produces over 25 tons of plastic waste every year. In response, Slovenian and Italian scientists have joined forces to develop the BioApp platform with funding from the […]
Policy & Policymakers
EU Ambassador says there is no EU ban on palm oil
In Indonesia, Ambassador of the EU to Indonesia Vincent Guérend said in a statement on Friday that no specific biofuel or feedstock is targeted, all vegetable oils are treated equally, and palm oil is not identified as a bad biofuel, according to Antara News. “Biofuels are an important element of the EU’s renewable energy policy. […]
Bolivia gives green light and $2 billion support for GM soy to produce biodiesel
In Bolivia, Spain’s EFE news agency reports that the government has deregulated the use of GM soy on 250,000 acres as well as $2 billion funding for funding and infrastructure so farmers may grow feedstock in the Santa Cruz region as feedstock for biodiesel production. Droughts and floods have caused more than $168 million in […]
Brazil will only extend ethanol quota for US if US takes more sugar
In Washington, Reuters reports that Brazil and the US haven’t made progress on negotiations regarding a renewal of the ethanol quota for US exports to Brazil that expires in a few months due to Washington’s lack of interest in negotiating further sugar market access in exchange. The Brazilian agriculture minister told Reuters in an interview […]
Malaysia wants EU to suspend anit-palm oil policy until its scientific voracity can be proven
In Malaysia, the Bernama news agency reports that the country’s palm oil council says the European Union’s sustainability criteria for biofuels banning the oil’s use due to allegedly high indirect land use change impacts should be suspended until the ILUC rule can be proven to be scientifically-based and non-discriminatory. In response to the EU’s rule […]
US-Brazil trade tensions could rise over ethanol TRQ issue
In Washington, MercoPress reports that the US won’t budge on allowing Brazil to export more limes that are facing phytosanitary trade barriers until the issue of the ethanol import quota and tariff is dealt with. When US ethanol exports pass 150 million liters per quarter, a 30% tariff is slapped on them, which US ethanol […]
Other Recent Articles
World’s largest maritime biofuel pilot launched by DSGC
In the Netherlands, a group of Dutch multinationals – FrieslandCampina, Heineken, Philips, DSM, Shell and Unilever – all members of the Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition (DSGC), will join forces with A.P. Moller – Maersk to take a tangible step towards the decarbonization of ocean shipping via the world’s largest maritime biofuel pilot. A pilot, using […]
Philippines plastic manufacture goes bio with starch-based biodegradable plastics
In the Philippines, D&L Industries, a food and plastic input manufacturer, has launched a new product in partnership with Japanese firm Showa Denko as an alternative to the conventional plastic bag. The new product is the Bionolle Starcla, an environmentally-friendly bag made from 100% plant-based materials. Bionolle Starcla is a starch-based biopolymer that can be […]
GoodFuels teams with VARO Energy subsidiary for biodiesel for deep-sea vessels
In the Netherlands, GoodFuels is on a roll with yet another announcement, this time that VARO Energy subsidiary REINPLUS FIWADO Bunker and GoodFuels have extended their partnership to improve availability of bio fuel oil (BFO) to deep sea vessels leaving from Rotterdam, the companies have announced. The new deep sea proposition, which will help to […]
Ethanol production falls only slightly despite Midwest floods
In Washington, Platts reports that Energy Information Administration data shows that despite flooding across the Midwest that has inhibited flow of ethanol and feedstock as well as production in some cases, as well as those who have idled production due to low prices, production only fell by 2,000 b/d last week to an average of […]
EPA looking at issuing partial hardship waivers for some of the 39 applications received in 2018
In Washington, Reuters reports that the Environmental Protection Agency has decided to compromise on the issue of hardship waivers for small oil refineries, deciding it will issue partial waivers for some of the 39 applications it received for 2018 compliance. Only once has the EPA granted a partial waiver in the past and that was […]
ICCT report says policies must not “pervert” in their attempts to support aviation biofuels
In Germany, the International Council on Clean Transportation has released a new working paper that says that policies supporting the use of cellulosic and other waste stocks would do more to support the efficient development of aviation biofuels rather than directly prioritizing the use of aviation biofuel which it says can create perverse incentives by […]
