Category: Top Stories

Genomatica hits huge milestone, produces world’s 1st ton of renewable nylon intermediate

Genomatica hits huge milestone, produces world’s 1st ton of renewable nylon intermediate

February 1, 2020 |

In California arrives the news that 80 years after nylon’s first commercial production, Genomatica achieved a new milestone for the material — its production of the world’s first renewably-sourced ton of the key ingredient for nylon-6, made from plants instead of crude oil. But what does this really mean for the future of nylon? A […]

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The largest sustainable aviation fuel offtake deal, ever?: Delta strikes historic SAF contract with Pacific Northwest biofuels venture

The largest sustainable aviation fuel offtake deal, ever?: Delta strikes historic SAF contract with Pacific Northwest biofuels venture

January 30, 2020 |

From Washington state and from Georgia news arrives that Delta entered into one of the largest airline offtake agreements of its kind to purchase sustainable aviation fuel from NWABF. Yep, NWABF, which sounds an awful lot like Porky Pig trying to pronounce “Robert” but actually is Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels. More on that, shortly. But let’s […]

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The Competitive Edge: Vanguard Renewables

The Competitive Edge: Vanguard Renewables

January 30, 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? Vanguard Renewables’ leadership saw an opportunity to help the American farmer to improve manure and nutrient management and to provide […]

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Mattel’s biobased building blocks, world’s 1st fuel-cell powered train, self-healing “Frankenstein” concrete, potato starch produce packaging, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of January 30th

Mattel’s biobased building blocks, world’s 1st fuel-cell powered train, self-healing “Frankenstein” concrete, potato starch produce packaging, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of January 30th

January 29, 2020 |

From big companies like Mattel and their first building block sets made from bioplastics, to smaller innovators and entrepreneurs, the bioeconomy had a busy week with innovations. A new plant-based faux fur that incorporates SORONA, a corn-based fiber manufactured by DuPont and produce packaging made from potato starch offer new, better alternatives. Also fascinating are […]

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Sanders surging, and a Klobucharge, in Iowa, New Hampshire as start to primary season voting looms

Sanders surging, and a Klobucharge, in Iowa, New Hampshire as start to primary season voting looms

January 29, 2020 |

For those tracking the Democratic primary in New Hampshire and the Iowa caucuses as part of Decision 2020, it’s clear that Sanders is surging and there’s a Klobucharge in the making, too. What’s at stake? Hmm, farm prices, crop prices, rural development, carbon-reducing legislation, energy security — just to mention a few things along with […]

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Hardship Relief:  Tenth Circuit strikes down three small oil refinery waivers in win for renewable fuels

Hardship Relief:  Tenth Circuit strikes down three small oil refinery waivers in win for renewable fuels

January 27, 2020 |

In Colorado, in an unanimous ruling, the Tenth Circuit of the US Court of Appeal has struck down three small refinery hardship waivers from compliance with the United States’ Renewable Fuel Standard. The court ruling stems from a May 2018 challenge brought against EPA by the Renewable Fuels Association, the National Corn Growers Association, the […]

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Big Bucks coming from DOE – $300M for sustainable transportation includes $100M for biofuels

Big Bucks coming from DOE – $300M for sustainable transportation includes $100M for biofuels

January 26, 2020 |

No, we aren’t going to be riding on the backs of big bucks for transportation, but transportation will be changing with the big news from Washington, D.C. at the Washington Auto Show, that the U.S. Department of Energy is investing nearly $300 million in funding for research and development of sustainable transportation resources and technologies. […]

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The Competitive Edge: Activated Research Company (ARC)

The Competitive Edge: Activated Research Company (ARC)

January 23, 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? Activated Research Company (ARC) was founded in 2014 with a mission to make chemical analysis easy. Utilizing our expertise in […]

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Living robots, fungus homes, biobased aquaculture ropes, biopolymer food films, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of January 23rd

Living robots, fungus homes, biobased aquaculture ropes, biopolymer food films, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of January 23rd

January 22, 2020 |

It was a week of lots of deal-making, like edible straw startup Loliware’s raising of $5.9 million to scale production, and deal-breaking, like Itaconix and Nouryon’s break-up over biobased chelating agents for detergent applications. But it was also a week of innovating like the development of biobased food packaging films made from biopolymers based on […]

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The Democratic Party’s Choice for President: The Digest’s endorsement

The Democratic Party’s Choice for President: The Digest’s endorsement

January 22, 2020 |

The first votes of the 2020 Presidential election season are due to be cast in Iowa in less than two weeks, and it is fitting that this farm state is where the journey towards Decision 2020 begins. Iowa touches all of us, as the epicenter of the world’s bioeconomy. The bioeconomy is the source of […]

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