In Belgium, WWF has submitted a Freedom of Information request for a crucial assessment of EU farming policy’s impact on the climate. The assessment, carried out by external consultants, has been delivered to the European Commission and was due to be released in summer 2018. National agriculture ministers are set to discuss the reform of […]
In Washington, the U.S. Department of Energy announced over $79 million in funding for bioenergy research and development including biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower. There’s so much emphasis on waste residues, synthetic biology for making little critters hum, and unlocking energy by a sort of bottom-feeding on all the detritus of civilization that we’re tempted to […]
Provivi is looking to revolutionize the foundation of pest control with natural pheromones – mating disruption – and to protect food supplies without toxic residues and empower the next generation to grow food more sustainably. Their patented technology reduces pest populations and minimizes crop damage with no side-effects to humans or beneficial insects like bees. […]
National Jet Fuels Combustion Program has a mission to help streamline the fuel approval process and has over 30 instituttions involved in their research and projects including 12 universities, 8 government agencies, 5 OEMs and several others. Med Colket, Retired Senior Fellow, United Technologies Research Center, gave this illuminating overview of NJFCP’s results of their […]
In Michigan, scientists at Michigan State University developed synthetic biology tools to co-produce high-value compounds in plants. The new tools allow to produce both terpenoids and oil, a biofuel resource, in plant leaves. Modern applications for terpenoids range wide, from pharmaceuticals, fragrances, nutraceuticals and biopesticides, to chemical feedstocks. Terpenoids form the largest class of natural […]
In Norway, starting from 1 January 2020, 0.5 per cent of aviation fuel sold in Norway will be advanced biofuels, and the regulatory changes will be introduced in the Product Regulation. Norway is one of the first countries in the world to introduce such a requirement in the aviation sector. Flights carried out by military […]
In France, AFYREN, which produces high-value bio-based building blocks with fermentation technologies, is further strengthening its leadership teams through three strategic appointments. After securing €60m of financing to create its industrial subsidiary AFYREN NEOXY (joint-venture with the SPI industrial projects fund operated by Bpifrance), AFYREN has appointed Jean Saint-Donat, Maxime Cordonnier and Fabrice Orecchioni. AFYREN […]
In Germany, UFOP reports that the productivity of oil palm trees seasonally decreases from October onwards. Nevertheless, January/March 2019 palm oil production was up, on average, 10 per cent from a year earlier. By contrast, exports only increased 7 per cent. In the first three months of the ongoing year, Malaysian production of palm oil […]
In Switzerland, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials has several new members including Steeper Energy, the Sustainable Shipping Initiative, the Namibia Biomass Industry Group, and GoodFuels which moved from Associate to Full Membership. Joining RSB represents a major step for Steeper Energy, showcasing their commitment to every aspect of sustainability in the bio-economy. With a €50 […]
In Washington, D.C., Natural Gas Vehicles for America and the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas announced that 32 percent of all on-road fuel used in natural gas vehicles in calendar year 2018 was renewable natural gas and that biomethane motor fuel use marks a 577% increase over the last five years. Captured above ground from […]
