In Malaysia, in response to an anti-palm oil sentiment in Europe due to real or perceived environmental challenges with the way oil palms are grown, the European Commission will hold an in-country consultation next week including four expert panels and site visits to plantations in an effort to better understand the reality on the ground. […]
In China, through careful genetic analysis of a large, diverse panel of sorghum varieties, scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered the gene controlling the stem juiciness trait in sorghum, as described in this month’s issue of the Plant Cell. The dry gene product appears to function as a master switch that controls the […]
In Washington, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) delivered a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler asking that the agency fully account for small refinery exemptions in the annual Renewable Fuel Standard rules and “end the demand destruction for biodiesel.” The letter also asks EPA to set RFS biomass-based diesel volumes for 2020 […]
The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of October 17th In today’s Digest, edible barcodes, DARPA’s modifying crops, insects, Pivit Bio raises $70M, rice straw ethanol, renewable concrete, automated indoor farming, biobased hairstyling, silkworms making spider silk — these and more, ready […]
Honeywell’s UOP has developed a renewable jet fuel processing technology, a renewable diesel process, as well as a joint venture, Envergent Technologies, that will market technologies and equipment for generating power, transportation fuel and heating oil from biomass using pyrolysis. UOP also owns a Renewable Energy & Chemicals business that produced green diesel using its Ecofining […]
In North Dakota, Targray announced the opening of its Fargo Biodiesel Terminal, a 24/7 fuel distribution center serving wholesale fuel buyers throughout the Fargo-Moorhead metro area. Centrally located in West Fargo, North Dakota, the new terminal will provide local fuel retailers, distributors and fleet managers with greater access to biodiesel, a bio-based renewable fuel that […]
In India, the Times of India reports that the Uttar Pradesh cabinet has given the green light to the Indian Oil Company to supply it with 50 acres where it can locate its proposed waste-based ethanol plant. The 30-year lease for the facility was one of the final steps required before the company could move […]
In Ohio, The Andersons, Inc. announced that it has entered into a merger agreement with Lansing Trade Group, LLC, its long-time affiliate, to acquire the 67.5% of Lansing equity that it does not already own for cash and stock currently valued at a total of approximately $305 million. In addition to paying approximately $175 million […]
In Wisconsin, D3MAX LLC and Ace Ethanol LLC announced they have started construction of the first D3MAX facility at Ace Ethanol’s plant in Stanley, Wisconsin. Ace Ethanol will be the first ethanol producer to integrate the patented D3MAX technology with its existing corn dry mill. Earlier this year, Ace Ethanol received approval from its board of directors and […]
In Washington, Platts reports that the Environmental Protection Agency will adopt final rules for year-round E15 blending by May as well as for fuel economy standards by March, a move that will freeze Obama-era clean fuel standards and create an additional demand for fossil fuels of 500,000 barrels per day. The EPA proposal for E15 […]
