Politics – Page 33 – IL BIOECONOMISTA

Marc Palahí talks to Il Bioeconomista. An interview with the director of EFI

23 November 201523 November 2015Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

“The European forest-based sector is clearly becoming more diversified, interlinked, and cross-sectorial. It is increasingly affected by issues such as climate change impacts and policies, energy policies, advances in new technologies, the increasing role of services, and trends towards low carbon bioeconomy. Furthermore, the forest sector is becoming more integrated with other industrial sectors such as construction, energy, chemicals and textile industries. The concepts of ‘forest-based sector’ and ‘forest-based bioeconomy’ are beginning to replace the conventional and a more limited concept of ‘forest sector’.” To say this – in this exclusive interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Marc Palahí, director of EFI, the European Forest Institute. With him we talk about the forest-based economy and its connection with the bioeconomy.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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Chris Patermann talks to Il Bioeconomista. An interview with the “father” of EU bioeconomy

19 November 201520 November 2015Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

Chris Patermann at the Bioeconomy Investment Summit, Brussels, 9-10 November

Chris Patermann is simply the “father” of the European bioeconomy. Since January 2004 he was Programme Director for “Biotechnology, Agriculture & Food” Research at the Research Directorate-General of the European Commission, which from 2007 also comprised Aquaculture and Fisheries as well as Forestry. During these years he was responsible for the elaboration of the new concept of the Knowledge Based Bioeconomy (KBBE), which today is known as bio-based economy or more simply bioeconomy in Europe. He was also appointed Chairman of the oldest Committee between EU Member States and the European Commission, the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research, SCAR. He also served for 4 years as co-chair in the important EC-US Task Force Life Sciences and Biotechnology Research. In August 2007 Christian Patermann retired. He now lives in Bonn and advises public and private institutions and companies, among them the largest German Land NorthRhine-Westphalia, the Fraunhofer Society, the Swiss Agricultural Research Council etc.

With Chris Patermann, who is one of the most influential people in the European bioeconomy, we talk – in this long exciting exclusive interview – about what was the vision that inspired the beginnings of the European strategy on bioeconomy, but also the future of this meta-sector through which the European Union can aspire to economic growth, creation of jobs and environmental sustainability.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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We are all French

Image 14 November 201515 November 2015Il Bioeconomista1 Comment

A dedicated bioeconomy development agency to promote the sector in Europe

12 November 2015Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

Berlaymont, European Commission's Headquarter in Brussels — Berlaymont, European Commission’s Headquarter in Brussels

After the Bioeconomy Investment Summit, the confrontation continues on Il Bioeconomista.

A proposal by James Cogan* to creating dedicated bioeconomy development agency to energetically promote the sector

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Bioeconomy Investment Summit: adelante con juicio

11 November 201511 November 2015Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

The European bioeconomy seeks a compass. Yesterday ended the Bioeconomy Investment Summit organised by the European Commission in Brussels, which has had starring the main players of the bioeconomy made in Europe. The event, which had as its clever director John Bell – director of Bioeconomy Directorate – leaves many open questions, but mainly provides the framework of a Europe divided between countries, between sectors, between large and small companies, including those who require a system of public procurement as the Biopreferred Programme in the US (with standards and labels) and those who say it is up to the market, those who say the bioeconomy is integral part of circular economy and those who say that it is better to run on two parallel planes. In short, adelante con juicio.

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Bioeconomy is integral part of circular economy

1 November 20151 November 2015Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

Without biotechnology there is no bioeconomy. And the bioeconomy is integral part of circular economy. This is the strong message that comes from EFIB, the European Forum on industrial biotechnology and the bioeconomy which was held in Brussels on October 27 to 29, organized by EuropaBio and Smithers Rapra.

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Claudio De Scalzi, Ceo of Eni, said to look for a partner for chemical division Versalis

24 October 201528 October 2015Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

“We’re looking for a joint venture that will allow us to join forces to promote the business.” After days of rumors about the sale of its chemical division Versalis, yesterday the Ceo of Eni, Claudio Descalzi, gave this short answer to the reporters who urged him on the issue. It is at the same time a confirmation of the will of the Italian oil giant to back away from chemistry.

The advisor Barclays would then be at work not to look for buyers but partners and – if according to the agency Bloomberg would be affected several private equity firms – rumors in Italy say it has already started a negotiations with a private fund.

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Ten billion euros of investment in advanced biofuels

12 October 201513 October 2015Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

James Cogan, European Technology, Industry and Policy Analyst

We receive and publish with pleasure this comment by James Cogan. He is a technology, industry and policy analyst collaborating with PNO Innovation in Brussels and with a number of public and private organisations with stakes in the future of biofuels and transport energy. In the run up to the climate emergency conference in Paris he has been considering the options open to the designers of the new European governance system for climate and energy and to the 28 teams charged with creating member state climate and energy plans for publication by 2018. We are glad to promote the debate.

“At a time when carbon emissions should be dropping by 40%-80% EU transport emissions will actually increase by that amount, becoming the number one EU contributor to catastrophic global warming.

Transport emissions can only be reduced in the 2030 timeframe by traffic efficiencies, biofuels and lower tailpipe emissions. To date the EU has not taken bold measures to pursue such avenues and any gains have been offset many times over by traffic growth. Electric vehicles comprise only a miniscule fraction of the EU vehicle fleet, sales are under 1% and even the most optimistic forecasts for sales growth would not lead to an impact until well after 2040.

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U.S. Advanced biofuels companies threaten Obama to invest abroad if adopted the EPA’s RFS reform

28 September 2015Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

“EPA is proposing to change the rules in the middle of the game.” The representatives of advanced and cellulosic biofuels industry – a nonprofit educational organization advocates for the adoption of advanced biofuels as an energy security, military flexibility, economic development and climate change mitigation/pollution control solution – recently sent a letter to President Barack Obama regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s renewable fuel standard (RFS) volume requirement proposal.

In the letter it was emphasized that the May 29th proposal represents a broken promise that is negatively impacting investments and partnerships in advanced biofuels, is sending projects and jobs overseas, and is at odds with the president’s initiatives to combat climate change.

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Interview with Nathalie Moll, EuropaBio: Industrial biotech plays a vital role in developing the enzymes and fermentation processes used in biorefineries

13 August 201513 August 2015Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

“Biobased products are perfect examples of the shift towards a circular economy as they are made from renewable raw materials rather than from finite fossil carbon sources. However, the link between the bioeconomy and the circular economy is not always made and we need it to be better recognised in order to ensure that the right supportive measures are put in place to help enable this transition. This is why we are focusing on the circular economy in anticipation of the European Commission’s proposal which is due out towards the end of this year”. To say it in this exclusive interview with Il Bioeconomista is Nathalie Moll, Secretary General of EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries. With Moll we talk about bioeconomy, biotechnology, circular economy and EFIB, the European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy, which will take place next October 27-29 in Brussels.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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