BBI JU demo project GRACE – IL BIOECONOMISTA

An interview with Iris Lewandowski: “It is needed for industry to look for more sustainable resource supplies and more efficient production processes”

2 May 202230 April 2022Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

Prof. Dr. Iris Lewandowski. Courtesy of University of Hohenheim

Iris Lewandowski is one of the leading people of the European bioeconomy. In July 2018, she was appointed Chief Bioeconomy Officer (CBO) of the University of Hohenheim. Presently, she is Scientific Speaker of the European Bioeconomy University (EBU), an alliance of six leading European Universities in the field of the knowledge-based bioeconomy, dedicated to cooperation in bioeconomy education, research and knowledge transfer. She is also co-chair of the German Bioeconomy Council and co-chair of the Baden-Württemberg federal government’s advisory board “Sustainable Bioeconomy”. In this interview with Il Bioeconomista she talks about bioeconomy at German and European level and about the BBI JU demo project GRACE, which she is coordinating.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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An interview with Stefano Babbini, CEO of the Italian SME Mogu

24 May 202124 May 2021Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

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“I believe that EC and the Member States should really work with the aim of promoting such innovative and sustainable products, sustaining the market entry phase, especially in those market segments characterized by low margins and hard competition (such as building and textile sectors).” To say it – in this interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Stefano Babbini, co-founder and CEO of Mogu, an Italy-based SME which is exploring the potential of mycelium-based technologies in several application sectors. He talks with us about the company’s main business, the bioeconomy at European level and the BBI JU demo project Grace, where the Italian company is applying its technology to the hemp and miscanthus value chains.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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An interview with Giulia Gregori, Strategic Planning Manager at Novamont

4 March 20212 March 2021Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

“The paradigm of the circular bioeconomy for Novamont means renerating territories, focusing on soil health and on the decarbonisation of the atmosphere”. To say it – in this interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Giulia Gregori, Strategic Planning and Corporate Communications Manager at Novamont, the company based in Novara, Italy, which is a leader in the world market of bioplastics. Gregori talks about the circular bioeconomy in the frame of the EU Green Deal and the circular economy action plan and talks also about Grace, the BBI JU demo project focused on hemp and miscanthus.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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An interview with Stefano Togni, Business Development Director at Indena

22 October 202020 October 2020Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

“The use of renewable biological sources is a key element for Indena, when sourcing a biomass for the development and manufacturing of a botanical ingredient”. To say this – in this interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Stefano Togni, Business Development Director at Indena, Milan-based multinational leading company dedicated to the identification, development and production of high quality active principles derived from plants, for use in the pharmaceutical and health food industries. He talks with us about Indena’s main business, the company’s role in the BBI JU Demo project Grace and the sustainable development policies after the pandemic.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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An interview with Mladen Istuk, director of the biorefinery project development at INA

28 October 201919 October 2019Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

“INA as a social and environmental responsible middle European company has recognized value of bioeconomy in fighting climate change, and through its development activities is constantly seeking for advanced technologies, which can be used to align with global trends, as well as to enable creation of new opportunities for the company”. To say it – in this exclusive interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Mladen Istuk, director of the biorefinery project development department at INA, the Croatian oil company.

In this exclusive interview with us, he talks about what INA is doing in the circular bioeconomy and its involvement in the BBI JU Demo Project GRACE. And also about the Croatian bioeconmy

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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“We need to embrace genetic technologies”. An interview with William Cracroft-Eley, Terravesta

25 February 201921 February 2019Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

“I also believe that we need to embrace genetic technologies, rather than be fearful of them, to enable the greatest beneficial outcomes in the shortest time”. To say it – in this interview with Il Bioeconomista – is William Cracroft-Eley, chairman of Terravesta, a leading miscanthus supply chain specialist, producing sustainable energy from marginal land. In this interview he talks about miscanthus and the role of farmers in the bioeconomy, the BBI JU Demo Project GRACE, “which is demonstrating the feasibility of 10 bio-based value chains for hemp and miscanthus biomass at an industry relevant scale”, the bioeconomy in UK after Brexit and the Vivergo’s case.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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An interview with Andreas Kiesel, University of Hohenheim. “A CO2tax for fossil-based products”

25 June 2018Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

“Cascade use and reuse/-cycling are important factors for the success of the bioeconomy, but the products need to be designed in an appropriate way for recycling. For sure, carbon storage in the material is a positive side effect, but I see this more as a leverage to increase competitiveness of bio-based products compared to fossil-based products, e.g. through a CO₂tax for fossil-based products”. To say it – in this interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Andreas Kiesel, a researcher at the University of Hohenheim, who is coordinating the BBI JU Demo Project GRACE, “which is demonstrating the feasibility of 10 bio-based value chains for hemp and miscanthus biomass at an industry relevant scale”.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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