Category: Top Stories

ARPA-E launches SMARTFARM program with $16.5M in investments for 6 projects aimed at low-carbon feedstocks

September 8, 2020 | Jim Lane

In Washington, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy announced $16.5 million in funding for six projects as part of the Systems for Monitoring and Analytics for Renewable Transportation Fuels from Agricultural Resources and Management (SMARTFARM) program. These projects will develop technologies that bridge the data gap in the biofuel supply chain by quantifying feedstock-related GHG emissions […]

In COVID-19 world, biobased industries key to rebuilding a strong, sustainable economy

September 7, 2020 | Jim Lane

By Matt Lipscomb, CEO, DMC Bio Special to The Digest The globalization trend of the last 20 years focused on driving down the cost of manufacturing at the expense of all other factors. One of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the realization of the fragility of current global supply chains. As consumers […]

Plants without the plant? A look at cannabinoids made with yeasts instead of plants

September 6, 2020 | admin

We’ve covered beef without the cow, pork without the pig, but what about plants without the plant? That’s what BioMediCan is tackling – technically they aren’t creating a plant without a plant, but they are creating a plant compound, cannabinoids, without cannabis plants, skipping the growing, the sunlight, the watering, the harvesting, and all those […]

From Incredible Cotton to Impending Ag: an insider’s look at superstuff: the future of food + ag on view at The Dish on 9/16

September 4, 2020 | Jim Lane

I’m as intrigued as I think you will be by a new East Coast-based accelerator based around the convergence of biology and engineering, which goes by the name of Petri, which is a such an obviously right for a bio-based accelerator that I wonder why no one thought of it before. Naturally for a group […]

Competitive Edge: Velocys

September 3, 2020 | admin

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? Velocys is delivering the next generation of sustainable fuels to decarbonize aviation. We were founded from spinouts of Oxford University […]

Biodegradable cellulose COVID-19 antibody test, orange peel waste recovers precious metals, biobased fabrics and more: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the week of September 3rd

September 2, 2020 | admin

COVID-19 has changed the way we do many things and it’s hard not to notice the increased single-use disposable items, but one researcher in Mexico designed a biodegradable test for COVID-19 antibodies, made of cellulose that can biodegrade in the soil in less than 10 weeks, just like a banana peel. In China, researchers are […]

ESG Investing and the Bioeconomy – Part 2: Understanding ESG Investing Frameworks, Reporting, Stakeholders

September 1, 2020 | Jim Lane

By Cynthia Thyfault, Global Biofuture Solutions, Founder and CEO and Gerard J. Ostheimer, PhD., Co-Founder and CSO Special to The Digest INTRODUCTION ESG reporting seeks to create a standard way for a range of investors to understand a company’s (or a fund’s or an asset’s) financial and non-financial impacts, as well as the strategy, approach, […]

The Rocket’s Glare: Impossible Foods, Moderna, Phillips are three strands of a single, driving braid of opportunity

August 31, 2020 | Jim Lane

There’s great news in the advanced bioeconomy this month. Impossible Foods has secured $200 million in its latest funding round, led by new investor Coatue. Wonder Food The industry-leading food-tech startup has raised about $1.5 billion since its founding in 2011. Impossible Foods will use the funds in part to expand its research and development […]

Follow the Rainbow! The Digest Interview: Dr. Chaudhari at Praj Industries on 2020 and what the future holds

August 30, 2020 | admin

Praj’s strategy has been to broaden its horizons leveraging its innovative end to end technology solutions in Bioeconomy. Its vision is to make the world a better place by deploying these solutions for sustainability and conservation of the environment. But how will it do that? How has this crazy year of 2020 impacted their plans? […]

Omega-3 Fatty Acids & The Future of Natural Product Sustainability

August 27, 2020 | Jim Lane

By Sam Nejame, CEO of Promotum & Simão Soares, CEO of SilicoLife Special to The Digest Most people have a hard time dealing with climate change deniers. We say, they’re backward, there’s overwhelming evidence, they’re anti-science. Anthropomorphic green house gases accumulate in the atmosphere and if we don’t live more sustainably the earth’s temperature will […]

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