Finnish bioeconomy takes another step forward

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Alexander Stubb, prime minister of Finland

The Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy is implementing the Government’s bioeconomy, cleantech, and digitalisation strategy for accelerating new areas for growth. In June 2014 an international competition was launched as part of the bioeconomy strategy to expedite the commercialisation of bioeconomy innovations and the emergence of new biorefineries in Finland.

Spinnova Ltd. has won the international biorefinery competition with its new textile fibre production technology. Two other proposals to receive awards in the competition are Biovakka Suomi’s concept for combining the production of biogas, nutrients, and transport fuel, and a proposal by the  that incorporates novel Finnish technology for the production of new biomaterials and biochemicals.

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The bioeconomy speaks Dutch: today starts in Amsterdam the World Bio Markets

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Dam Square in Amsterdam

Today starts in Amsterdam the 10th annual World Bio Markets, an event which will focus on three bioeconomy core topics: biofuels, bio-based chemicals and feedstock supply, security and selection.

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The Environment Committee of the EU Parliament backs switchover to advanced biofuels

European Parliament, Strasbourg
European Parliament, Strasbourg

A draft law to cap the production of traditional biofuels and accelerate the shift to alternative sources, such as seaweed and waste, was approved by the Environment Committee on Tuesday. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that result from the growing use of agricultural land to produce biofuel crops.

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Nous sommes tous Charlie

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Ireland focuses on bioeconomy to maximise national income, exports and job creation

Enda Kenny, Prime Minister of Ireland (Taoiseach)
Enda Kenny, Prime Minister of Ireland (Taoiseach)

In Ireland a multi-disciplinary research team, led by Teagasc (Agriculture and Food Development Authority), and including the Technology Centrefor Biorefining and Bioenergy (TCBB) at NUI Galway, Crop Science & Biosystems Engineering at UCD and the Environmental Sustainability & Health Institute at Dublin Institute of Technology, has been funded by a 2014 DAFM/Stimulus research grant to address how Ireland can maximise national income, exports and job creation thanks to the bioeconomy.

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Plastic bags? European Union says: No, thanks

Green MEP Margrete Auken
Green MEP Margrete Auken

The European institutions adopted a legislative proposal amending the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) that addresses the challenge of conventional single use plastic carrier bags consumption, and explicitly sanctions the actions of several member states that have already recognized the benefits of compostable bags.

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A sluggish Europe is hurting world growth

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Berlaymont, European Commission's Headquarter in Brussels

The Eurozone economy expanded by 0.2 percent in the third quarter, official data showed Friday, a slight acceleration that will do little to quell fears that a sluggish Europe is hurting world growth, Agence France-Press reported.

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Nova-Institute: “It’s time for a change and a new start” for the EU bioeconomy

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Michael Carus, managing director of the nova-Institut

The European Union will need a new political framework for rolling out its bio-based economy by 2020 at the latest. The existing framework does not create sufficient market pull for implementing innovative, bio-based technologies. To say it are Michael Carus, Lara Dammer and Roland Essel in the latest policy paper of nova-Institute “Options for Designing a New Political Framework of the European Bio-based Economy – nova-Institute’s contribution to the current debate”.

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Reverdia earns the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label for its Biosuccinium

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Headquarter of Royal DSM in Heerlen (The Netherlands)

Reverdia, the joint venture between Royal DSM and Roquette Frères, has earned the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label for its Biosuccinium bio-succinic acid. The USDA Certified Biobased Product Label verifies that the product’s amount of renewable biobased ingredients meets or exceeds levels set by US Department of Agriculture.

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Why Biobased? US government knows this very well

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a comprehensive report synthesizing current literature that explores opportunities in the emerging bioeconomy. The report, entitled “Why Biobased?”, was created as a precursor for a more comprehensive economic study to be released in the coming months by the USDA BioPreferred program on the economic impacts of the biobased products industry.

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