Category: Research

Positive review of Sustainable Development of Biofuels in Latin America and the Caribbean

February 16, 2015 | Jim Lane

Solomon Barry D., and Robert Baillis eds. Sustainable Development of Biofuels in Latin America and the Caribbean. New York: Springer Press, 2014 By Thomas N. Thompson., Maritime Environmental and Energy Advisor, U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), Washington (Tom.Thompson@Dot.Gov). Amongst all the renewable resources, biomass is one of the most promising, particularly for transportation fuels. This superb […]

Akermin win 3 key patents in industrial biocatalysis

February 12, 2015 | Jim Lane

In Missouri, Akermin announced the issuance of 3 new patents, each contributing to the expansion of the company’s intellectual property position in industrial biocatalysis. The United States patent office recently issued Akermin the following patents: US 8895280 Polysilicate-Polysilicone Enzyme Immobilization Materials and US 8859151 Immobilized Enzymes in Biocathodes. The patent office also issued a Notice […]

Indian researchers file for US patent for coconut biodiesel technology

February 11, 2015 | Meghan Sapp

In India, researchers at Kochi-based SCMS Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research and Development and the SCMS School of Engineering and Technology have filed for a US patent for coconut-based biodiesel. The technology can produce 760 liters of biodiesel from 10,000 coconuts’ worth of oil, along with five other co-products.

Evogene to set up R&D center in St. Louis

February 10, 2015 | Meghan Sapp

In Israel, Evogene announced it has signed a Letter of Intent with plans to establish a research and development facility in the Bio-Research and Development Growth (BRDG) Park, developed by Wexford Science & Technology, a BioMed Realty Company, on the campus of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The establishment of […]

Agricultural Research Service looking at ways to boost sorghum production

February 9, 2015 | Meghan Sapp

In Colorado, researchers led by Agricultural Research Service recently found a new way to exploit sorghum’s potential. They found that by using certain cropping strategies, growers can produce sorghum in parts of northeastern Colorado where the growing season was previously considered too short. Meanwhile, another team of ARS scientists working in Texas has developed a […]

Israel debuts $1m award for innovation in alternative fuels for transportation

February 9, 2015 | Isabel Lane

In Israel, the Ministry of Science, Technology & Space and KerenHayesod-UIA, together with the Prime Minister’s Office, has announced a new annual award, “The Eric and Sheila Samson Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation in Alternative Fuels for Transportation.” Accompanying the award will be a prize of USD $1 million.The prize will be awarded for global […]

Louisiana researchers happy with energy cane variety development

February 5, 2015 | Meghan Sapp

In Louisiana, researchers at the LSU AgCenter are pleased with the results from energy cane varieties under trial, saying that many of the 300 they are testing survived the unusually cold winter of 2013 without impacting yields. Extending cane’s resistance to cold is key to growing the crop outside the traditional cane-growing belt.

Evogene incorporates gene optimization program in R&D with Monsanto

February 4, 2015 | Meghan Sapp

In Israel, Evogen announced that its recently developed comprehensive gene optimization program is being incorporated into its multi-year collaboration with Monsanto Company. The addition of these new capabilities, which have been designed to optimize desired trait efficacy and potentially accelerate product development, follows the successful identification and validation by Evogene of more than one thousand […]

Indiana University researchers use nitrogen to produce cellulosic ethanol

February 3, 2015 | Meghan Sapp

In Indiana, Indiana University biologists believe they have found a faster, cheaper and cleaner way to increase bioethanol production by using nitrogen gas, the most abundant gas in Earth’s atmosphere, in place of more costly industrial fertilizers. The discovery could save the industry millions of dollars and make cellulosic ethanol – made from wood, grasses and […]

Japanese researchers develop economically viable model for on-farm cellulosic ethanol

February 2, 2015 | Meghan Sapp

In Japan, researchers from the National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences have determined a way to make second generation ethanol production economically viable on-farm. The process, known as ‘solid-state fermentation’, involves packing harvested whole rice plants with yeast and enzymes into a round bale wrapped in impermeable film. During incubation, sugars and starch in the rice […]

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