An interview with Iris Aquilina Anderson, leader of the Bioladies Network. The bioeconomy from the female perspective

“The bioeconomy is a relatively new sector and so one could hope it is not yet ‘contaminated’ with the prejudices. In a way, it is a perfect territory for women to conquer and showcase the plethora of their skills.” To say it – in this exclusive interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Iris Aquilina Anderson, leader of the Bioladies Network. Iris has 35 years of policy, business and research experience specialising in the bioeconomy, agriculture, energy and sustainability issues. She is an evaluator for BBI JU and H2020 and is currently the First Ambassador of BBIA, a trade association promoting the bioeconomy in the UK and a Committee member of the Natural Materials Association, part of IOM3.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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The Pasadena Fire Department goes green with Finnish Neste

The Pasadena Fire Department, a California city northeast of Los Angeles,  switched much of its fleet of apparatus from operating on petroleum diesel to using Neste MY Renewable Diesel, produced by the Finnish company Neste. The department plans to transition all its fleet apparatus to renewable diesel by 2019.

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BioAmber Inc. filed a voluntary petition for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code

BioAmber has been listed on the NYSE since May 2013

BioAmber Inc. filed a voluntary petition for relief under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code and that its two Canadian subsidiaries, BioAmber Sarnia Inc. and BioAmber Canada Inc., filed a Notice of Intention to make a proposal under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), with a view to strengthening the company’s financial health and solidifying its long-term business prospects.

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U.S. BIO: the global economic value of the biobased economy is $355.28 billion

Sonny Perdue, Secretary of Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a new report on the bioeconomy, “Indicators of the U.S. Biobased Economy”, which measures substantial economic growth, job creation, and household income for the agricultural sector from biofuel and bioenergy production. Moreover, it indicates great potential for additional prosperity from future growth in renewable chemicals and biobased products. BIO, the U.S. Biotechnology Innovation Organization, calculates that the global economic value of the biobased economy – including industrial biotechnology, renewable chemicals and polymers, biofuels, enzymes and biobased materials – is $355.28 billion.

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Vivergo plant re-opens. The bioethanol industry calls for the Government to introduce E10 fuel

Vivergo bioethanol plant in Hull (England)

The Vivergo plant has re-opened following a four-month shut-down period following unfavourable trading conditions; in part – according to the British company – “driven by Government inaction on the future of renewable fuels and current market conditions”. It was closed in November and has been conducting maintenance and upgrade work during the closed period.

Over the coming months, it is hoped that conditions will improve as a result of the RTFO being passed through Parliament in March. This will come into effect later this month, increasing the use of renewable fuels in transport from 4.75% to a target of 9.75% by 2020.

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The whisky-based economy takes a step forward with Celtic Renewables

Lagavulin Distillery in Port Ellen (Scotland)

Celtic Renewables Ltd, the innovative Scottish start-up providing next generation biofuel, is building a commercial demonstrator plant, which will produce over half a million litres of biofuel each year.

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Global Bioeconomy Summit in Berlin: the traffic lights for the bioeconomy are green

Around 700 high-ranking representatives from politics, science, civil society and the business sector and from more than 70 countries met in Berlin, Germany, from 19 to 20 April to discuss the latest developments and challenges in the global bioeconomy. This was the second time that German Bioeconomy Council had organized the Global Bioeconomy Summit in the German capital. “We created an event format in the Global Bioeconomy Summit that succeeds in bringing together broad international expertise on bioeconomy, innovation, biodiversity and sustainability.

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Berlin will be the world capital of bioeconomy from 19 to 20 April

Telekom Hall in Berlin, venue of GBS 2018

Berlin will be the world capital of bioeconomy. Around 800 experts from more than 70 countries are expected to participate in the second Global Bioeconomy Summit in the German capital city. High-ranking representatives from politics, science, civil society and the business sector will meet from 19 to 20 April to discuss the latest bioeconomy developments. In focus: opportunities and challenges for an increasingly biobased and sustainable economy.
For the second time, the German Bioeconomy Council, with the financial support of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), has invited experts on bioeconomy, innovation and sustainability from all over the world to Berlin.

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IKEA aims to cut food waste by 50% in all IKEA stores by August 2020

With the Food is Precious initiative IKEA aims to cut food waste by 50% in all IKEA stores by August 2020. A little more than a year since the roll out of the initiative IKEA has diminished food waste that is equivalent to one million meals.To put that into a context; one million meals could feed one thousand people for a whole year.

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The University of York is to lead on a £5million project to develop the bioeconomy

BioVale Steering Group. Copyright BioVale

The University of York is to lead on a £5million project to develop the bioeconomy across Yorkshire, the Humber region and the Tees Valley. The THYME project – this is its name – will build on the existing expertise and innovation in the region in a new collaboration between the Universities of York, Hull and Teesside. Those involved in the three year project say the funding will boost the region’s economy, create jobs and deliver major environmental benefits.

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