The U.S. bioeconomy moves forward (despite of Trump). The University of Arizona has received a five-year grant of up to $15 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to lead a new center focusing on the mass production of biofuels and bioproducts in the Southwestern U.S.
Technology
Mossi Ghisolfi is considering selling its business in the biofuels sector
Italian biochemicals multinational Mossi Ghisolfi is considering selling its Italian business in the biofuels sector as part of a restructuring deal, a source close to the matter said to the International press agency Reuters.
The company, Italy’s second-biggest chemicals business behind that of oil group Eni, has hired Mediobanca to run the process, the source said to Reuters.
Eight promising bioeconomy start-ups pitched in Delft at an event organized by Royal DSM
A total of eight promising start-ups were invited to pitch at the event “Connecting Bright Innovations 2017” organised by Royal DSM and held this year in Delft (Netherlands), which focused on new and innovative products and biotechnologies for food, health and (bio)tech applications. A panel of expert venturing and innovation specialists is evaluating the pitches with a view to their suitability for further financing and partnering opportunities.
Rome: the eternal city becomes the bioeconomy city
More than 300 delegates from EU, USA, Russia, Turkey, Israel, Latin America and Canada, 40 presentations, 20 scientific posters and a round table on “The role of Shared pilot facilities in fostering the bioeconomy”. These are the numbers of IFIB, the Italian Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy, which opens today to the world in Rome at Palazzo Rospigliosi.
An interview with Marco Astorri, CEO of Bio-on. “It is necessary to make a step forward to more circular processes”
Interview by Mario Bonaccorso
The first bottle containing renewable isobutene filled in Leuna by Global Bioenergies
The demo plant of French company Global Bioenergies, located at the Leuna refinery site, has successfully operated its entire technical process: fermentation, purification, and filling station. The first bottle containing renewable isobutene has been filled.
An exclusive interview with Tony Duncan, CEO of Circa Group
“By taking the time to scale up efficiently and deliberately, our position in the bioeconomy is growing. Circa remains focused on creating non-toxic, high-performance chemicals from cellulose, using our FuracellTM technology. We are targeting a market of over 900,000 tonnes per annum, growing at 4%. While we do not want to compete in the inevitable price war currently unfolding, as companies vie to be ‘last man standing’ to extract some cash out of legacy plants producing these toxic products, we do see plenty of opportunity to sensibly scale into the market over the next 5-10 years”. To say this – in this long, exclusive interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Tony Duncan, CEO of Circa Group, an Australian innovative company which is converting biomass into advanced biochemical materials.
Interview by Mario Bonaccorso
Clariant and Enviral sign a license agreement on sunliquid® cellulosic ethanol technology
Swiss Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, and Enviral, the largest producer of bioethanol in Slovakia, have signed a license agreement on sunliquid® cellulosic ethanol technology.
Bio-on and Kering Eyewear join forces to develop new biomaterials
Bio-on and Kering Eyewear join forces to develop new materials based on Minerv PHAs, the revolutionary bioplastic which is 100% natural and biodegradable. “This is the first time in the world that a company in the eyewear industry has decided to carry out research with our biopolymers,” explains Marco Astorri, Chairman and CEO of Bio-on.
BASF and bse Engineering join forces to use excess of current and CO2 as a raw material
- Headquarter of Basf in Ludwigshafen
The chemical giant BASF and bse Engineering have signed an exclusive joint development agreement for BASF to provide custom made catalysts for a new chemical energy storage process. This process will enable economically viable transformation of excess current and off-gas carbon dioxide (CO2) into the chemical energy storage methanol in small-scale, delocalized production units.
