Economy – Page 133 – IL BIOECONOMISTA

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.

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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.

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Waiting for the elections, dreaming Bastioli as the next Minister of Economic Development

22 February 2013Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

It’s not just because she shows great vision and strategic economic sense (read the interview with our journal in this regard). It’s not just because she knows how to reconcile economic growth, creation of new skilled jobs and environmental sustainability. It’s certainly not just because she is a woman in a country, Italy, where women find thousand obstacles to occupy top positions in the economy, academia and politics. It’s not only for these reasons but for sure these are enough to dream Catia Bastioli, the current Ceo of Novamont and chairwoman of the Kyoto Club Italy, as the next Italian Minister of Economic Development.

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Exclusive interview with Catia Bastioli, Ceo of Novamont: “The Bioeconomy needs to start from local areas”

19 February 201319 February 2013Il Bioeconomista2 Comments

“The Bioeconomy needs to start from local areas and act in synergy with ecosystems and biodiversity. In this respect the Italian case is a cutting edge demonstrative example ”. To say it is Catia Bastioli, Ceo of Novamont, the company of Novara, in Italy, world leader in the field of biodegradable products, thanks to the use of plant materials and renewable energy sources with low environmental impact. In this long exclusive interview, the entrepreneur of Umbrian origin, who, among other things, awarded the “2007 European Inventor of the year Award” for her patents for Mater-Bi the bioplastics commercialized by Novamont, talks about bioeconomy and green economy, the emerging cluster of green chemistry, but above all she gives us a vision and a strategy. “We need – tells us Bastioli – to encourage the creation of a bioeconomy not based on subsidies but based on cutting edge applications which respect stringent standards and which can contribute to lower pressure on the planet limited resources”.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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Geoghegan-Quinn da Dublino: ”Voglio una Europa alla guida non al seguito nella bioeconomia”

14 February 201316 February 2013Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

“Voglio una Europa alla guida e non al seguito nella bioeconomia”. Questo il messaggio che lancia da Dublino Màire Geoghegan-Quinn, la commissaria europea alla Ricerca, all’Innovazione e alla Scienza. In veste di padrona di casa nella sua Irlanda, Geoghegan-Quinn ha voluto sottolineare l’impegno della Commissione Barroso a sostenere in ogni ambito la realizzazione della bioeconomia, definita tout court “l’economia del ventunesimo secolo”, supportando l’implementazione di strategie a livello regionale e nazionale in tutto il Continente, ma soprattutto impegnandosi per un coordinamento e una maggiore coerenza delle politiche europee. In questo senso la conferenza sulla Bioeconomia di Dublino ha offerto l’occasione per lanciare l’Osservatorio sulla Bioeconomia, a cui verrà affidato il compito di monitorare quanto viene realizzato nei singoli paesi, oltre che di raccogliere dati sull’evoluzione dei diversi mercati di riferimento.

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A Dublino si discute il futuro della Bioeconomia in Europa

13 February 2013Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

È tutto pronto a Dublino per il via alla Conferenza degli stakeholders europei della bioeconomia (Bioeconomy in the EU: achievements and directions for the future – potete seguirla in diretta su Twitter @bioeconomista). Nella splendida cornice offerta dal castello che domina la capitale d’Irlanda, Istituzioni, imprese e centri di ricerca provenienti da ogni angolo del Vecchio Continente si confronteranno giovedì 14 e venerdì 15 febbraio sui prossimi passi da realizzare per mettere in atto la strategia per la bioeconomia lanciata lo scorso anno dalla Commissione europea.

Proprio a Dublino si festeggerà il primo anniversario della strategia, di cui principale protagonista è la commissaria alla Ricerca, Innovazione e Scienza, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, chiamata a fare da padrona di casa in coincidenza con la Presidenza irlandese dell’Unione europea.

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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.

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Nasce il gruppo europeo dei leader dei carburanti sostenibili

6 February 20137 February 2013Il Bioeconomista1 Comment

Gli amministratori delegati di sette grandi aziende, tra produttori europei di biocarburanti e linee aeree, hanno lanciato oggi a Bruxelles una nuova iniziativa industriale per accelerare lo sviluppo in Europa dei biocarburanti sostenibili.

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David Cameron pushes green energy

5 February 20137 February 2013Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

This is part of the text of David Cameron (UK’s Prime Minister)’s speech at the launch of DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change)’s energy efficiency mission

I want to tell you why I believe energy efficiency is so important. Yes of course it is a vital part of how we cut carbon emissions and continue to meet the ambitious targets set out in the Climate Change Act, which will allow us to meet growing energy demand in a way that protects the environment for our children, grandchildren and generations to come. Of course that is important, but my argument today is not just about doing what is right for our planet, but doing what is right for our economy too.

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Danish BioRefining Alliance: “We need the EU to speed up and decide on a better regulation with targets for 2G biofuels”

4 February 20137 February 2013Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

“By having the first full scale 2G biorefinery (Mossi & Ghisolfi’s Biorefinery in Crescentino, editor’s note) I am convinced that Italy will play one of the important and leading roles in 2G bioeconomy on a European level. We hope very much that the next full scale plant will be in Denmark.The EU countries have a unique chance to be first movers and preferred partners in the future global bioeconomy”. To say it, in this interview, is Anne Grete Holmsgaard, the director of the BioRefining Alliance, the Danish partnership organization working to promote 2G biofuels and bioeconomy in Europe. Denmark has a leading role in the European bioeconomy. With Anne Grete Holmsgaard we talk about BioRefining Alliance, but especially bioeconomy and European policies to foster it. “We need – says the BioRefining Alliance’s director – the EU to speed up and decide on a better regulation with targets for 2G biofuels, which will give a very clear signal to investors.