Business – Page 114 – IL BIOECONOMISTA

New Zealand meat-based bioplastics in commercial use by 2016

26 February 20138 March 2013Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

Aduro Biopolymers, a natural resource materials and biopolymer company based in Hamilton, New Zealand, hopes to see its meat-based bioplastic, called Novatein, in commercial use by 2016 or 2017. The company, that is a spin-out of the University of Waikato, has announced it has secured investment from Wallace Corporation, by volume New Zealand’s largest service rendering business, processing a variety of co-products from the meat processing industry.

Aduro was formed to develop and market materials and biopolymers for use in the manufacturing sector and is currently developing a novel material based on an unconventional idea; turning bloodmeal into bioplastic.

Continue reading →

The Canadian government plans to end its subsidy for production of biofuels in 2017

25 February 2013Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

The Canadian government plans to end its subsidy for production of biofuels when its current program ends in 2017, a newspaper reported last Saturday. “The Globe and Mail” quoted a letter from Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver to the biofuels industry on Thursday explaining that Ottawa needed to cut spending to tame its deficit.

Oliver said that the ethanol industry now produces the necessary volume of renewable fuel for Canada to meet its target of 5 percent ethanol in the country’s gasoline supply, the newspaper reported.

But the minister also noted that the Canadian biodiesel industry had been unable to produce enough of that fuel, forcing some refiners to import to meet a 2 percent biodiesel target.

Continue reading →

Bioplastics made from algae: Cereplast incorporates Algaeplast

23 February 2013Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

New transaction in the field of bioplastics. Cereplast, a leading US manufacturer of proprietary biobased, compostable and sustainable bioplastics, that since 1996 has the exclusive North American distribution rights to Novamont’s Mater-Bi resins, has announced the incorporation of a new wholly owned subsidiary, Algaeplast, Inc.

Algaeplast’ s focus will be the development and manufacture of algae-based bioplastics. Cereplast has been a pioneer in algae-based plastics, helping to bring the first products made from Cereplast Algae Bioplastics grades to market in 2011, and with the recent commercialization of Biopropylene 109D in December of 2012.

Cereplast introduced the concept in late 2009, with a target of reaching a bioplastic made from 50% algae bio-content. Algaeplast’s ultimate goal is to bring to market new polymers made from 100% algae content. Recently, the Company commercialized small quantities of Biopropylene 109D, a compound with 20% post-industrial algae biomatter. The research and development team is currently developing a grade with a higher percentage of algae bio-content. Based on customer interest, the company has determined that the demand for bioplastics made from algae is significant, and therefore has created Algaeplast, which will focus on this new sector. Algaeplast has been created to develop a new monomer and polymers made from algae.

Continue reading →

Global Bioplastics market is expected to reach US$7.7 billion by 2016

9 February 2013Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

In Ireland Research & Markets reports that Global Bioplastics market is expected to reach US$7.7 billion by 2016 at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 24.3%, globally. Region-wise analysis shows that Asia-Pacific is forecasted to record the highest growth rate of 25.7% during the analysis period 2011-2016. The Americas follows Asia-Pacific with a CAGR of 25.2%. Europe forecasts to drive with a growth rate of 23.5%. Volume based studies reveal that Europe is expected to overcome Asia-Pacific region in terms of the growth rate. Poly esters and Poly olefins are expected to drive the growth. Among the end-users, electronic and electrical industries are expected to have a better support over packaging industry.

Continue reading →

New U.S. Biofuel Proposals Could Draw Heavily from Food Sources

2 February 20137 February 2013Il Bioeconomista1 Comment

New biofuel requirements proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are being met with concern by a spectrum of interest groups from environmentalists to the oil industry, with some warning that a gap between the proposal and existing law could force the government to draw on food-based alternative fuels.

The announcement, which opens a 45-day feedback period, sets standards under the country’s landmark Renewable Fuel Standard programme. That 2007 legislation established long-term goals for alternative fuel use – 36 billion gallons a year by 2022 – for which the EPA is mandated to set yearly requirements for the country’s petroleum importers and refiners.

Continue reading →

Waiting for a New Global New Deal. Is there a new F.D. Roosevelt in Europe (and in Italy)?

30 January 20137 February 2013Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our Nation impels. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.

Continue reading →

Exclusive interview with European Commissioner Màire Geoghegan-Quinn: “We must prepare ourselves for a post-petroleum society”

25 January 20135 May 2013Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

“Europe and the rest of the world must cope with an expected 70 per cent increase in food demand, and a 100 per cent increase in energy demand, by 2050. Under these circumstances, we must prepare ourselves for a ‘post-petroleum’ society, one in which we use our natural resources more sustainably”. In this exclusive interview European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Màire Geoghegan-Quinn, talks about bioeconomy and European policies to support it. And tells us that “The Italian government is aware of the benefits of a coordinated bioeconomy strategy and expressed interest in possibly hosting the annual Bioeconomy Stakeholders Conference in Italy in 2014”.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

Continue reading →

Il secondo mandato di Obama è bio-based

22 January 20137 February 2013Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

Barack Obama ha giurato per il suo secondo mandato. Nel discorso inaugurale pronunciato a Washington ha toccato tutti i temi del dibattito politico americano: economia, sanità, cambiamenti climatici (un punto su cui ha insistito molto e che invece era rimasto in secondo piano durante la campagna elettorale), armi da fuoco, diritti civili di donne, gay, immigrati e minoranze. “L’America è in ripresa, un decennio di guerre sta finendo, l’economia sta ripartendo. Ora più che mai dobbiamo agire insieme come una nazione, un popolo. Le nostre possibilità sono illimitate”.

Saranno quattro anni in cui l’America cercherà di spingere sull’acceleratore della ripresa economica. E a contribuire alla spinta sarà certamente il piano della Casa Bianca per la bioeconomia. A sottolineare quanto Obama crede alle enormi potenzialità dell’economia bio-based è arrivata nei giorni scorsi la sua scelta di confermare capo del Dipartimento dell’Agricoltura, Tom Vilsack, uno dei pochi ad essersi salvato dalle modifiche apportate dal presidente al suo secondo gabinetto.

Continue reading →

Marginal lands are prime fuel source for alternative energy

20 January 20137 February 2013Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

Marginal lands – those unsuited for food crops – can serve as prime real estate for meeting the nation’s alternative energy production goals.

In the current issue of Nature, a team of researchers led by Michigan State University shows that marginal lands represent a huge untapped resource to grow mixed species cellulosic biomass, plants grown specifically for fuel production, which could annually produce up to 5.5 billion gallons of ethanol in the Midwest alone.

“Understanding the environmental impact of widespread biofuel production is a major unanswered question both in the U.S. and worldwide,” said Ilya Gelfand, lead author and MSU postdoctoral researcher. “We estimate that using marginal lands for growing cellulosic biomass crops could provide up to 215 gallons of ethanol per acre with substantial greenhouse gas mitigation.”

Continue reading →

Il Canada si prepara alla sfida della bioeconomia

18 December 20127 February 2013Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

foresta canadese Il Canada si prepara alla sfida della bioeconomia. Nel paese nordamericano è nata BEN (BioEconomy Network), una nuova rete intersettoriale della bio-based economy, che si pone l’obiettivo di sostenere politiche mirate di carattere finanziario e ambientale in grado di capitalizzare il potenziale emergente dei prodotti bio-based nel mercato globale. In parole più chiare: BEN vuole dare impulso a un settore che già oggi in Canada vale 86,5 miliardi di euro, oltre il 7% del Prodotto interno lordo, per far crescere l’economia e creare nuovo occupazione.