Category: Chemicals & Materials

Amyris acquires CBD beauty brand

Amyris acquires CBD beauty brand

January 25, 2021 |

In California, synthetic biology company Amyris has acquired cannabinoids-based beauty brand Terasana for an undisclosed sum.  John Melo, president and CEO of Amyris said in a press statement that the company is “very optimistic” about the future of clean cannabinoids and the efficacy they bring to the skincare market.  The company recently commercialized cannabigerol, a […]

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Stacking sheets of cells yields better cultivated meat, Canadian research shows

Stacking sheets of cells yields better cultivated meat, Canadian research shows

January 25, 2021 |

In Canada, researchers at McMaster University have produced cultivated meat they claim has flavor and texture more like conventional, animal-based products.  The process creates sheets of living cells that can be stacked, similar to methods used to grow tissue for human transplants, say Ravi Selvaganapathy and Alireza Shahin-Shamsabadi. The way they are stacked can enable […]

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Spain looks to evaluate health impacts of cultured meat

Spain looks to evaluate health impacts of cultured meat

January 25, 2021 |

In Spain, BioTech Foods has been awarded a €5.2 million (US $6.3 million) government grant to evaluate if cultured meat has any of the negative health effects of animal meat such as cholesterol and cancer risks.  BioTech Foods, itself a cultured meat company, is developing its Ethicameat brand covering multiple species. Early prototypes include meatballs […]

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London startup introduces biodegradable computer

London startup introduces biodegradable computer

January 18, 2021 |

In London, a computer company has launched a biodegradable computer featuring a casing made from vegetable waste.  Dubbed Abacus, Pentaform’s computer is comprised of a portable keyboard that can be used with any display. After its useful life has ended, the user can recycle the technical elements and leave the biodegradable polymer casing to biodegrade […]

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Soy-based turf meets the gridiron

Soy-based turf meets the gridiron

January 18, 2021 |

In Indianapolis, SYNLawn Indiana reports that its soy-based turf will be used by the Indianapolis Colts for 2021 pre-game matches as well as education programs.  The United Soybean Alliance says the deal will help further awareness of soy-based products and their benefits. The education programs, which will commence once COVID-19 policies end, include “Touchdown Town,” […]

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DSM, Dutch university to build Europe’s first bioscience AI lab

DSM, Dutch university to build Europe’s first bioscience AI lab

January 18, 2021 |

In the Netherlands, DSM and TU Delft have partnered to build an artificial intelligence laboratory dedicated to bioscience innovation.  Dubbed the Artificial Intelligence Lab for Biosciences (AI4B.io), the facility will be the first in Europe to apply AI to full-scale biomanufacturing, from microbial strain development to process optimization and scheduling. The AI4B.io Lab will be […]

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Novamont acquires BioBag to create integrated bioplastics giant

Novamont acquires BioBag to create integrated bioplastics giant

January 18, 2021 |

In Norway, Italian bioplastics producer Novamont has acquired BioBag Group, a company focused on the development and distribution of compostable applications and a leading manufacturer of environmentally friendly packaging in Northern Europe.  The deal creates the most vertically integrated group in the bioplastics industry.  Novamont is focused largely upstream and has created a supply chain […]

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Cow intestine lamps marry grossness with function

Cow intestine lamps marry grossness with function

January 18, 2021 |

In Denmark, designer Kathrine Barbro Bendixen is converting waste cow intestines into surprisingly beautiful lighting installations. Once cleaned and reinflated, Bendixen, founder of Studio KBB, uses the intestines to create translucent tubes.  Bendixen tells dezeen.com she first began experimenting with animal intestines while a student at  Design Academy Eindhoven. “I was immediately fascinated,” she says. […]

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Student establishes vegan leather startup in Columbia

Student establishes vegan leather startup in Columbia

January 18, 2021 |

In Colombia, Oxford University student Gabriel Moreno has developed a vegan leather using fibers from the fique plant that helps create a revenue stream for local rural farmers.   Inspired by his father’s environmental consciousness, Moreno founded Fiquetex to commercialize the biodegradable material.  “When we saw research predicting that there will be more plastic bags than […]

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Air-to-meat startup raises $32 million

Air-to-meat startup raises $32 million

January 18, 2021 |

In California, a startup developing a process to convert air into meat has raised $32 million. Air Protein’s process feeds organisms water, nutrients and carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen sourced from air to produce protein.  Agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland and Google’s venture capital arm participated in the Series A funding.   “It is essential to […]

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