Author Archive: Jim Lane

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Let’s Get it On: Avantium acquires Liquid Light 

Let’s Get it On: Avantium acquires Liquid Light 

January 10, 2017 |

In the Netherlands, Avantium has acquired the assets of Liquid Light Inc, developer of a process technology to make major chemicals from low-cost, globally-abundant carbon dioxide (CO2). The acquisition combines the technologies of both Liquid Light and Avantium to develop a world leading electro-catalysis platform and to commercialize new process technologies using CO2 as feedstock […]

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Crop Enhancement’s yield technologies, algae’s prospects lead in debut of TerraTech radio program

Crop Enhancement’s yield technologies, algae’s prospects lead in debut of TerraTech radio program

January 9, 2017 |

In Florida, TerraTech, a weekly one-hour radio program on new technologies, rising companies and personalities in the advanced bioeconomy, will debut this Wednesday, January 11th at 9am ET on VoiceAmerica’s Variety Channel. The program will debut here. The first series will continue for 13 weeks, and will be hosted by Digest editor Jim Lane and […]

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Switchcraft: Metabolix bioconverts itself into Yield10, focuses on crop yields

Switchcraft: Metabolix bioconverts itself into Yield10, focuses on crop yields

January 8, 2017 |

In Massachusetts we have had more signs of the pivoting underway in the advanced bioeconomy with the news that Metabolix is changing its name to Yield10 Bioscience and will focus on developing disruptive technologies for step-change improvements to crop yield to enhance global food security. The company is hard at work re-thinking how it talks […]

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Oil to head for $70 in 2017: Report

Oil to head for $70 in 2017: Report

January 8, 2017 |

In New York, Raymond James analyst Pavel Molchanov and the RJ energy team write: “One year ago, we thought that 2016 oil prices would rally in the back half of the year, natural gas prices would be stagnant, and energy stocks in general would meaningfully outperform the broader market. Check. Oops. Check. After bottoming in […]

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Large shortfalls in EU rapeseed market: Report

Large shortfalls in EU rapeseed market: Report

January 8, 2017 |

In Germany, UFOP reports that “supply in the EU-28 rapeseed market is much scarcer in 2016/17 than a year earlier. Although consumption is on the decline, the decrease in harvest volumes affects stocks and will increase the need for imports. The EU Commission calculates its outlook on a basis of a 2 million tonne drop […]

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Monsanto lands license for new CRISPR System

Monsanto lands license for new CRISPR System

January 8, 2017 |

In Missouri, Monsanto has reached a new global licensing agreement with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard for the use of the novel CRISPR-Cpf1 genome-editing technology in agriculture. The CRISPR-Cpf1 system represents an exciting advance in genome-editing technology, because it has potential to be a simpler and more precise tool for making targeted improvements […]

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Improved on-site anaylsis of biodiesel blends 

Improved on-site anaylsis of biodiesel blends 

January 8, 2017 |

In the UK, advanced sensor technology is enabling a specialist fuel analysis company to accurately verify the biofuel content of diesel blends used in critical industrial plant and stand-by power generation applications. The UKAS-accredited Contaminated Fuel Condition Services (CFCS) operates a fleet of mobile test laboratories to provide on-site fuel quality monitoring analysis for a […]

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New Microbial Solutions for Agriculture from BioAg Alliance

New Microbial Solutions for Agriculture from BioAg Alliance

January 8, 2017 |

In Denmark, the BioAg Alliance, Monsanto’s and Novozymes’ collaboration to improve crop harvests through products containing naturally-occurring microbes, said that yield increases among top microbial strains averaged over 3 bushels per acre for corn and over 2 bushels per acre for soy. BioAg Alliance products are currently used on more than 80 million acres of […]

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US ethanol production sets record as 2016 ends

US ethanol production sets record as 2016 ends

January 8, 2017 |

In Washington, according to EIA data as analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, US ethanol production averaged an unprecedented 1.043 million barrels per day (b/d)—or 43.81 million gallons daily. That is up 15,000 b/d from the week before and a record high to end a banner year for ethanol production. Weekly production averaged more than […]

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U.S. ethanol exports continue to surge in Q4

U.S. ethanol exports continue to surge in Q4

January 8, 2017 |

In Washington, RFA Research Analyst  Ann Lewis said that the United States exported 121.9 million gallons of ethanol in November—down 7% from October’s huge total, but still the third-largest monthly total in five years, according to government trade data released today and analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association. Brazil was the top market again in […]

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