Author Archive: Jim Lane

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High-End Crop Traits: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Calyxt’s Gene Editing for Healthier Food

High-End Crop Traits: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Calyxt’s Gene Editing for Healthier Food

February 2, 2020 |

While some have abandoned their healthier eating New Year’s Resolutions, there is still a growing global consumer population demanding healthier food and Calyxt is working on making that happen. Calyxt develops healthier specialty food ingredients, like heart healthy oils and high fiber wheat, by leveraging cutting edge science to develop food crops through gene editing […]

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The largest sustainable aviation fuel offtake deal, ever?: Delta strikes historic SAF contract with Pacific Northwest biofuels venture

The largest sustainable aviation fuel offtake deal, ever?: Delta strikes historic SAF contract with Pacific Northwest biofuels venture

January 30, 2020 |

From Washington state and from Georgia news arrives that Delta entered into one of the largest airline offtake agreements of its kind to purchase sustainable aviation fuel from NWABF. Yep, NWABF, which sounds an awful lot like Porky Pig trying to pronounce “Robert” but actually is Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels. More on that, shortly. But let’s […]

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The Competitive Edge: Vanguard Renewables

The Competitive Edge: Vanguard Renewables

January 30, 2020 |

Q: What was the reason for founding your organization – what was the open niche you saw that could be addressed with a new product or service? What was the problem, or gap, or opportunity? Vanguard Renewables’ leadership saw an opportunity to help the American farmer to improve manure and nutrient management and to provide […]

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Rural America’s Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Rural Energy for America Program, The Farm Bill

Rural America’s Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Rural Energy for America Program, The Farm Bill

January 30, 2020 |

Between droughts, trade wars, and more, Rural America has had so many challenges, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture is trying to help with various Rural Business-Cooperative Service’s programs including investment of approximately $2 billion across loan and grant programs just in FY 2019. Check out Mark Brodziski, Deputy Administrator of the USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative […]

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Cook County jail teaching inmates how to produce UCO biodiesel

Cook County jail teaching inmates how to produce UCO biodiesel

January 29, 2020 |

In Illinois, WTTW reports that the Cook County jail has implemented a new project that teaches inmates how to produce biodiesel from used cooking oil supplied by the jail’s cafeterias, and then the fuel produced fuels the jail’s two utility trucks exclusively. The jail invested $11,000 in the production kit last November and started offering […]

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Mattel’s biobased building blocks, world’s 1st fuel-cell powered train, self-healing “Frankenstein” concrete, potato starch produce packaging, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of January 30th

Mattel’s biobased building blocks, world’s 1st fuel-cell powered train, self-healing “Frankenstein” concrete, potato starch produce packaging, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of January 30th

January 29, 2020 |

From big companies like Mattel and their first building block sets made from bioplastics, to smaller innovators and entrepreneurs, the bioeconomy had a busy week with innovations. A new plant-based faux fur that incorporates SORONA, a corn-based fiber manufactured by DuPont and produce packaging made from potato starch offer new, better alternatives. Also fascinating are […]

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Two Airlines Working Towards Sustainable Aviation Fuel: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Alaska Airlines and United Airlines’s Aviation Biofuels

Two Airlines Working Towards Sustainable Aviation Fuel: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Alaska Airlines and United Airlines’s Aviation Biofuels

January 29, 2020 |

Alaska Airlines and United Airlines are on board with sustainable aviation fuel, and both airlines gave these short but sweet presentations at ABLC NEXT in San Francisco outlining their aviation biofuel activities to date as well as their future plans. First, check out United’s presentation on incentives to drive aviation biofuel investment, their plan to […]

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Sanders surging, and a Klobucharge, in Iowa, New Hampshire as start to primary season voting looms

Sanders surging, and a Klobucharge, in Iowa, New Hampshire as start to primary season voting looms

January 29, 2020 |

For those tracking the Democratic primary in New Hampshire and the Iowa caucuses as part of Decision 2020, it’s clear that Sanders is surging and there’s a Klobucharge in the making, too. What’s at stake? Hmm, farm prices, crop prices, rural development, carbon-reducing legislation, energy security — just to mention a few things along with […]

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Clearing the FOG – Reclaiming advanced biofuel from Fats, Oils and Grease

Clearing the FOG – Reclaiming advanced biofuel from Fats, Oils and Grease

January 28, 2020 |

By Ron Crosier, President, Downey Ridge Environmental Company Special to The Digest Biofuels offer a renewal energy source that can reduce dependence upon fossil fuels. The EPA reports that replacing fossil fuels with biofuels has the potential to reduce the negative effects of fossil fuel production and use, including conventional and greenhouse gases (GHG) pollutant […]

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Interfacing with R&D and Industry: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to BETO’s Advanced Development & Optimization

Interfacing with R&D and Industry: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to BETO’s Advanced Development & Optimization

January 28, 2020 |

We are always trying to optimize – optimize processes, efficiencies, cost, value, and more, but did you know that the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office has a program just for this sort of thing? The ADO or Advanced Development and Optimization program has several goals including selecting three or more drop-in jet and/or […]

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