Author Archive: Jim Lane

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Can the Circle 
be Unbroken? Revival on the 
Road to Methanol

Can the Circle 
be Unbroken? Revival on the 
Road to Methanol

December 9, 2025 |

Pulpton was dead as a doornail. On that point, there could be no doubt. The old pulp mill loomed over the road—chained gate, broken windows, vines crawling up the stacks like nature was repossessing the steel. Main Street was worse. Only two lights downtown:a check-cashing place and a nail salon insisting it was “OPEN” in […]

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The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to aireg’s Affordable SAF Initiative

The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to aireg’s Affordable SAF Initiative

December 8, 2025 |

This guide argues that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is more financially viable for passengers than often perceived. Data presented by aireg shows that meeting ReFuelEU mandates—which rise to 70% by 2050—would increase ticket costs for a Munich-Singapore flight by only €22. The presentation outlines Germany’s strategy to support Power-to-Liquid (PtL) production with €3 billion in […]

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The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to Strategic Avalanche’s Collaboration Matrix™

The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to Strategic Avalanche’s Collaboration Matrix™

December 4, 2025 |

Strategic Avalanche assists clients in commercializing sustainable solutions via the Collaboration Matrix™, addressing the gap between strategy and innovation. This systematic approach supports effective third-party partnerships, focusing on risk and resource sharing, and enhanced market access. Survey results indicate that while research collaborations are successful, manufacturing/scale-up partnerships receive the lowest industry grades. Success factors include […]

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The New Botany Bay: Tasmania and the Second Founding of Food

The New Botany Bay: Tasmania and the Second Founding of Food

December 4, 2025 |

“Land ho!” The cry cracked across the waves like musket fire. The decks of the Elizabeth Starbuck were slick with oil and brine, the air heavy with salt and smoke. Somewhere south of the Roaring Forties, on a moonless night when the seas rose like black cathedrals, Captain Henry Ward Collier braced against the quarterdeck […]

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The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to Pyrone Systems

The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to Pyrone Systems

December 3, 2025 |

Pyrone Systems offers PYRONZ™, a new green chemistry bio-insecticide to address resistance and regulatory burdens. Currently cost-competitive via chemical synthesis, future bio-production using vegetable oil byproducts aims for 50-75% cheaper costs. Field trials show the product outperforms market standards against navel orangeworm. Commercial milestones include a completed 30 kg pilot and developed end-use products. Regulatory […]

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The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to Praio

The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to Praio

December 2, 2025 |

Praio is commercializing patented artificial Protocells for intensified biomanufacturing, merging the advantages of whole-cell efficiency and cell-free flexibility. This platform improves reaction rates >10x and is stable over four months. The technology has demonstrated 1L scale continuous processing. Praio is strategically targeting high-margin specialty chemicals (sweeteners/fragrances) as its first product, aiming to transition later to […]

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You’ve Got a Friend in We: Novonesis, MicroBioGen and the Era of Radical Collaboration

You’ve Got a Friend in We: Novonesis, MicroBioGen and the Era of Radical Collaboration

December 2, 2025 |

Well now, pardner… If you’ll allow an old pull-string cowboy a moment, I’d like to tip my hat to something that doesn’t get near enough credit in this here bioeconomy: the power of sticking together. Y’see, back in Andy’s room, everyone thought the magic came from the toys that could do something—Buzz with his lasers, […]

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The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to iMicrobes

The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to iMicrobes

December 1, 2025 |

iMicrobes presents a highly compelling claim: producing net-zero, cost-advantaged acrylic acid from ethanol, overcoming historical cost barriers in biobased materials. Their novel finding is a simplified, scalable downstream processing route leading to an average gross profit margin of 49%. The ambitious strategy involves uniting the entire value chain—from feedstock suppliers to consumer brands—to align goals […]

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Back to the Future of Materials: Spero Renewables and the First Reverse Gear for Thermosets

Back to the Future of Materials: Spero Renewables and the First Reverse Gear for Thermosets

December 1, 2025 |

I. PROLOGUE: Brooklyn, 1901 — The Day the Reverse Gear Refused to Reverse If you had wandered down Milton Street in Brooklyn on April 9th, 1901, the air would have smelled of spring, hot metal, and the optimism of a century just waking up. At No. 59, in a cramped garage not far from the […]

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The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to Vertimass CADO Technology

The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to Vertimass CADO Technology

November 27, 2025 |

Vertimass’s novel CADO Technology presents a compelling biofuels breakthrough, converting alcohols to gasoline, jet fuel, and chemicals in a single step without requiring hydrogen. This drastically lowers production costs. Ambitious results include the 2024 EPA registration of VertiGas20, a high-octane gasoline blendstock offering >50% GHG reduction. Vertimass has commercial traction, including a joint venture targeting […]

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