Collaboration is the backbone of bioeconomy. South African and Dutch universities, research institutes, and businesses joined forces to work together on projects ranging from sustainable cropping systems to student-designed farm business plans. These partnerships strengthen innovation while ensuring solutions are scalable and practical.
At IFIB 2025 in Turin, which was be held last Thursday and Friday, the world bioeconomy stakeholders called for action. “It’s a now or never!” This is, extremely briefly, the message that comes from the last edition of the International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy. In this invitation made at the opening of the forum by the executive director of the CBE JU, Nicolò Giacomuzzi-Moore, it can be synthesized the will of over 200 forum participants to move rapidly towards the creation of new markets for the bioeconomy and to accelerate the transition to a new, more sustainable economy, which finally could strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, growth and resilience.
Industrial transformation was the focus of a meeting at the Gazometro, organised yesterday by Versalis, Eni’s chemical company, together with partners and customers. The event, titled “Versalis: from polymers to markets” provided an opportunity to engage with supply-chain companies on the challenges and opportunities tied to Versalis’ transformation plan. The company is pursuing a major programme increasingly focused on portfolio specialisation, circularity, biochemistry and innovation.
With a new, natural product rich in capsaicinoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids, Evonik aims at helping the dairy industry address two major challenges: nutrient deficiency in early lactation and heat stress. The German company has developed BoruCare® Capsin in cooperation with Heidi Botanicals, a French specialist in plant-based products for livestock. The product has been presented at SPACE 2025 and it will be commercially available in Europe from Q4 2025.
In one week Turin, Italy, will be the center of gravity of world bioeconomy. The Italian city capital will host the International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology from 24 to 26 September. IFIB will be held at the stunning Cavallerizza Reale hosted by the University of Turin. With more than 200 delegates in attendance from approximately 25 different countries from all around the world, also thanks to a partnership with the Italian Trade Agency, the conference truly succeeds one more time in its ambitions aim to be one of the leading bioeconomy events at global level.
Enerkem, a Canada-headquartered global technology provider enabling low-carbon fuels and chemicals founded in 2000, started a new phase of growth, supported by a strengthened financial foundation, renewed investor confidence, and a clear strategy for global market leadership.
UPM Specialty Papers has partnered with EvoPak to support Walkers Chocolates’ transition from a plastic wrapper to recyclable paper-based packaging. This will help Walkers Chocolates achieve its sustainable packaging ambition while reducing plastic usage across their site.
The largest and most modern consumer packaging board production line in Europe was inaugurated in Oulu, Finland. The new line was inaugurated by Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo, Chair of Stora Enso’s Board of Directors Kari Jordan, President and CEO of Stora Enso Hans Sohlström, and Oulu mill’s Chief Shop Steward Olli-Pekka Kaikkonen. Stora Enso’s Oulu unit serves the growing demand for renewable packaging globally and contributes to the transition to a circular bioeconomy. At the same time, the production site supports Finland’s competitiveness and increases exports with products of higher added value.
Avantium N.V., a Dutch company focused on renewable and circular polymer materials, successfully started up the sugar dehydration (SDH) unit and all auxiliary systems and utilities at its FDCA Flagship Plant in Delfzijl. This achievement marks a key technical achievement in the phased commissioning and start-up of the world’s first commercial facility dedicated to the production of FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), a key building block for the 100% plant-based and recyclable polymer PEF (polyethylene furanoate), branded as releaf®. Avantium now expects to begin commercial sales under its existing offtake agreements in the first quarter of 2026.
The Water Solutions team of Dupont has been recognized as a 2025 “Sustainability Squad” in the BIG Sustainability Awards for its work to advance industrial wastewater treatment, reuse and minimal liquid discharge (MLD). The “Sustainability Squad” Award, presented by the Business Intelligence Group, celebrates the DuPont Water Solutions team’s development and commercialization of the FilmTec™ Fortilife™ membranes, which enable industrial customers to treat and reuse wastewater more efficiently, reduce discharge volumes, and recover valuable resources—all while lowering energy consumption and operational costs.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 