Author Archive: Jim Lane

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The Jenny Craig Problem and the Theory of Carbon Offsets

The Jenny Craig Problem and the Theory of Carbon Offsets

February 24, 2020 |

Decarbonization is all the rage again – you can almost set your watch by the response of corporates to climate protests. There’s been a rash of announcements that ‘we’re doing something’, and lately the trend has been to announce a plan to be net zero carbon by 2030, 2040, 2050, take your pick. Almost invariably, […]

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USDA Rural Development, BioPreferred Program and more: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA’s Bioproducts to Market Efforts

USDA Rural Development, BioPreferred Program and more: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA’s Bioproducts to Market Efforts

February 24, 2020 |

USDA made a big announcement recently on targeting 30% biofuels by 2050, but did you know there are many ways they have been adding value to agricultural products to help the rural economy? Did you know the USDA continues to collect royalties from McDonald’s sale of 65 million lbs/year of apples in the U.S.? How […]

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Plant-based PEF Plan to Commercialization: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Avantium’s Renewable Polymers

Plant-based PEF Plan to Commercialization: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Avantium’s Renewable Polymers

February 23, 2020 |

We may love our pet, but do we love fossil-based PET? Don’t worry, PEF is working on kicking PET out of the plastics space. PEF is one of the most interesting plant-based polymers right now and Avantium is looking to PEF for the future of packaging. Their market traction in high-value applications like multilayer packaging, enhanced […]

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The Competitive Edge: Catalyxx

The Competitive Edge: Catalyxx

February 20, 2020 |

Q: What was the reason for founding your organization – what was the open niche you saw that could be addressed with a new product or service? What was the problem, or gap, or opportunity? Catalyxx was formed with the purposes of owning the exclusive rights to a technology, originally developed by Abengoa Bioenergy, that […]

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Optimizing Co-Product Production: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Alkaline-Oxidative Pretreatment of Woody Biomass

Optimizing Co-Product Production: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Alkaline-Oxidative Pretreatment of Woody Biomass

February 20, 2020 |

Two birds with one stone – if you can get BOTH a clean sugar stream for the production of hydrocarbon fuels AND lignins that can feed multiple product streams, then you are talking economic viability. Eric L. Hegg from Michigan State University, shared the latest research developments at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies […]

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Mayor Bloomberg’s take on agriculture

Mayor Bloomberg’s take on agriculture

February 19, 2020 |

“I could teach anybody even people in this room to be a farmer, even you,” says former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, currently running for US President. The remarks from 2016 surfaced this week, and can be viewed here. So, let’s take the Bloomberg course in agriculture, how does it work? “You dig a […]

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1st commercial-scale production of 5-HMF, 1st hydrogen-based residential area, largest fuel cell system ever on major ship, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of February 20th

1st commercial-scale production of 5-HMF, 1st hydrogen-based residential area, largest fuel cell system ever on major ship, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of February 20th

February 19, 2020 |

It’s fun to be 1st and this week is full of them…from the first hydrogen-based residential area in the Netherlands to the world’s first commercial-scale production plant of 5-HMF via AVA Biochem and Michelin Group’s new Joint Development Agreement. Times, they are a’changin’ and the news continues with the development of the largest fuel cell […]

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Algae, Lactic Acid, PLA: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Corbion’s Food and Biochemicals

Algae, Lactic Acid, PLA: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Corbion’s Food and Biochemicals

February 19, 2020 |

2019 was a good year for Corbion, with an organic net sales increase of 2.8% and food markets growing, but surprisingly biochemicals declined. Find out why, what the main drivers are behind their growth, what their future expectations are, the latest data on their business segments, innovation platforms, updates on the Total Corbion PLA JV, […]

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Limited Biofuels M&A Activity in 2019, Stage Set for Potentially Busy 2020

Limited Biofuels M&A Activity in 2019, Stage Set for Potentially Busy 2020

February 18, 2020 |

By Bruce Comer, Founder and Managing Director, Ocean Park Special to The Digest Slowdown in North American biofuels Mergers and Acquisitions as thin margins and policy uncertainty hung over industry. Biofuels Merger and Acquisition (M&A) activity in North America was subdued in 2019. Only four operating biodiesel, ethanol and advanced biofuels plants were sold during […]

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Plant Proteins – Redefining Meat with Science: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Beyond Meat and Meat Alternatives

Plant Proteins – Redefining Meat with Science: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Beyond Meat and Meat Alternatives

February 18, 2020 |

Subway recently launched the Beyond Meatball Marinara sub in Canada, Dunkin’ Donuts with Beyond Sausage, Del Taco with Beyond Taco and Beyond Burrito, and Beyond Burger, the world’s first plant-based burger that looks, cooks, and satisfies like beef, without GMOs, soy, or gluten, can be found almost anywhere now. Overall the company hopes that “By […]

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