Category: Research

ISU, Samuel Roberts Nobel Foundation partner to improve metabolomics of making plant oils

ISU, Samuel Roberts Nobel Foundation partner to improve metabolomics of making plant oils

December 8, 2011 |

In Iowa, an Iowa State University research team is collaborating with scientists at the Samuel Roberts Nobel Foundation and also with scientists in Japan to develop an international partnership to help make strides in the technologies needed towards a low-carbon society. The research will look at the chemistry of basic processes in plants and how […]

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Emissions reduction from palm oil biodiesel do not offset new planting: study

Emissions reduction from palm oil biodiesel do not offset new planting: study

December 7, 2011 |

In Indonesia, new research from Center for International Forestry Research says the reduced emissions from burning palm oil biodiesel are far outweighed by the clearing of peatland forests to grow the crop. Looking at oil palms, soybeans and jatropha in 12 sites around the world, the research found that for palm oil in particular, the […]

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Japanese-Malaysian teams breaks through on palm waste biofuels

Japanese-Malaysian teams breaks through on palm waste biofuels

December 6, 2011 |

In Malaysia, after 10 years of research and collaboration with experts from Japan, researchers at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak have begun producing biofuel from palm ‘sago’ (stem pith) waste. The plant will be opened to the public as an exhibition this month. The project will be expanded next year as pilot trials begin for biodiesel production […]

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Fertilizer from atmospheric nitrogen? Reseachers say 'possible'.

Fertilizer from atmospheric nitrogen? Reseachers say 'possible'.

December 5, 2011 |

In California, scientists with the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have made a key discovery that would possibly allow for capturing atmospheric nitrogen for fertilizer.  The discovery used an intense beam of X-rays from the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource to identify a hidden atom at the heart of the enzyme called nitrogenase, which plays a critical […]

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Fertilizer from atmospheric nitrogen? Reseachers say ‘possible’.

Fertilizer from atmospheric nitrogen? Reseachers say ‘possible’.

December 5, 2011 |

In California, scientists with the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have made a key discovery that would possibly allow for capturing atmospheric nitrogen for fertilizer.  The discovery used an intense beam of X-rays from the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource to identify a hidden atom at the heart of the enzyme called nitrogenase, which plays a critical […]

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Nuseed acquires Seeds 2000, expands sunflower capabilities

Nuseed acquires Seeds 2000, expands sunflower capabilities

December 5, 2011 |

In Minnesota. Nuseed, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nufarm Limited, announced the acquisition of Seeds 2000 Inc, based in Breckenridge, Minnesota, USA. Seeds 2000 is a seed research, production, sales and marketing company focused primarily on the development of elite oil and confection sunflower hybrids that benefit both the farmer and end-use food customer. Nuseed is […]

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Critter fuel: JBEI pioneers jet fuel, diesel and gasoline from e.coli

Critter fuel: JBEI pioneers jet fuel, diesel and gasoline from e.coli

December 2, 2011 |

In California, researchers with the Joint BioEnergy Institute have engineered the first strains of Escherichia coli bacteria that can digest switchgrass biomass and synthesize its sugars into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. What’s more, the microbes are able to do this without any help from enzyme additives. The E. coli were further engineered with three […]

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Energy, water breakthrough: Genencor enzymes extracting water from distillers grains

Energy, water breakthrough: Genencor enzymes extracting water from distillers grains

December 1, 2011 |

In Illinois, a study conducted by the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service at Center Ethanol Co.’s 54 million gallon per year ethanol plant in Sauget showed that enzymes could help extract water from distillers grains, saving natural gas, electricity and water used in the ethanol process. The research used Genencor enzymes those similar products from other […]

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Brazil's FINEP grants $1.2M for eucalyptus biofuels research

Brazil's FINEP grants $1.2M for eucalyptus biofuels research

November 30, 2011 |

In Brazil, the Brazilian Government’s Science and Technology Ministry’s FINEP agency has granted FuturaGene $1.2 million for it advanced plantation forestry for bioenergy research that is aimed at boosting yield in woody species, principally eucalyptus, through genetic modification. The company’s parent Suzano Papel e Celulose will provide another $2.3 million for the project.

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Novozymes opens new R&D facilities in Brazil

Novozymes opens new R&D facilities in Brazil

November 29, 2011 |

In Brazil, Novozymes has built additional R&D laboratories and customer solutions facilities at an existing site near Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, increasing its Brazilian workforce by 10 percent. The new Novozymes R&D laboratory will focus on bioenergy with additional research into household care, agriculture and baking industries. The company hopes to advance the commercialization of advanced […]

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