Experts from the leading edge of bioeconomy gather together in the outstanding nature of northeast Finland for roundtable discussions at the second ever World BioEconomy Forum in September. From September 11 to 13, Ruka will host some of the world’s most influential bioeconomy stakeholders, policymakers, researchers and innovators as speakers. Program is arranged by well-established Advisory Board (AB) of circular bioeconomy advocators.
Naples will be the world capital of the bioeconomy for a couple of days. The International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy (IFIB) goes to the fascinating Italian city from 3 to 4 October at the Congress Center of the University Federico II.
IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN) and Total signed a strategic R&D partnership that includes an agreement to endow a chair atthe IFP School, on carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) and technologies to curb CO2 emissions. The roughly €40 millionpartnership covers a period of five years.
Novo Holdings and LanzaTech, a pioneer in the production of next generation fuels and chemicals through the recycling of carbon pollution, have formed a partnership to grow LanzaTech’s revolutionary sustainable fuels and chemicals platform. Novo Holdings is making a $72 million investment in the company in a Series E financing, and Senior Director Anders Bendsen Spohr will join LanzaTech’s Board of Directors.
Metsä Spring, Metsä Group’s innovation company, has made an equity investment in Woodio Ltd, a leading developer of waterproof wood composite products. The financing round totals approximately EUR 4 million, and Metsä Spring participates in the round together with current investors Ardent Venture BV, Finow Ltd, NextStone Ltd and Valve Ventures Ltd.
Stora Enso has initiated feasibility studies for a possible cross laminated timber (CLT) unit in connection with its Ždírec mill in the Czech Republic and a new construction beam unit to be located at the Ybbs mill in Austria. The Scandinavian company also plans to consolidate production to increase focus on efficiency and to streamline the asset base.
Cargill is one of the main players of the world bioeconomy. The company founded in 1865 by William Wallace Cargill in Minnesota, USA, has today more than 155,000 employees worldwide serving food and beverage manufacturers, foodservice companies and retailers with food ingredients as well as food and non-food applications.
In this exclusive interview with Il Bioeconomista, Colleen May, President of Cargill’s Bioindustrial Group, tells us what is the bioeconomy from her company’s point of view and what are Cargill’s next steps in the green chemistry.
Interview by Mario Bonaccorso
“The bioeconomy offers great opportunities for the European chemical industry to create new products, diversify its raw material base and reduce its dependence on non-renewable resources”. To say it – in this long exclusive interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Daniele Ferrari, CEO Versalis, the Chemical Division of Italian oil giant ENI, and President CEFIC, the European Chemical Industry Council. Ferrari talks with us about the main challenges the European chemical industry is facing, the circular bioeconomy and the next steps of Versalis in the green chemistry field.
Interview by Mario Bonaccorso
Neste Corporation signed an agreement to sell its fuel retail business consisting of 75 fuel stations and a terminal in St. Petersburg region to PJSC Tatneft, one of the leading integrated oil and gas companies in Russia. “The divestment – Finnish company stated – has no impact on Neste’s Marketing & Services’ operations in Finland and the Baltic countries”.
Haldor Topsoe will build a 10 kg/hour methanol plant to demonstrate the company’s electrified and extremely compact eSMR Methanol™ technology for cost-competitive production of sustainable methanol from biogas. The eSMR Methanol™ technology exploits the full carbon potential of biogas by utilizing the 40% CO2 content which is routinely separated and vented today. The technology heats the process using green electricity from wind turbines or solar panels instead of natural gas.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 