In Denmark, Novozymes reported that it will lay off 198 employees after reporting 2016 organic sales growth of 2% organically and by 1% in DKK, primarily driven by Agriculture & Feed and Technical & Pharma. The EBIT margin improved by 0.2 percentage points to 27.9%, and EBIT grew by 2%. Net profit increased by 8%. […]
In Michigan, General Motors announced eight new diesel vehicle options hitting the roadways in 2017 – 2018, and a full line-up of twenty different diesel models, from passenger cars, to pickups and SUVs, to commercial vans and low cab forward trucks – all of which are approved for use with B20. GM’s announcement, along with […]
In Massachusetts, microbiologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst report that they have discovered a new type of natural wire produced by bacteria that could greatly accelerate the researchers’ goal of developing sustainable “green” conducting materials for the electronics industry. The study by Derek Lovley and colleagues appears this week in mBio, the American Society […]
In Germany, UFOP reports that the vegetable oil price index of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) surged by more than 4 per cent in December 2016, reaching a three-year high. Nevertheless, the index is far below its January 2011 record. According to the German trade group, “Prices for vegetable oils […]
In Washington, the EPA has approved the pathway for isobutanol produced at Gevo’s Luverne, MN plant to be an advanced biofuel under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program. This is the first time that the EPA has approved a pathway for an advanced biofuel that uses starch from feed corn to produce an alcohol. With a partial substitution […]
“Our challenges, our risk level went up a little bit; we are going to have to redouble our efforts in 2017,” said energy policy expert Jim Massie, essaying the political landscape as the National Biodiesel Conference’s annual policy forum kicked off in San Diego. A standing-room only crowd of more than 350 packed the small […]
By Mark Warner, PE, Founder, Warner Advisors LLC Special to The Digest As companies consider options to commercialize their advanced biotechnologies, they are faced with the decision to either build their own demonstration scale facility or utilize existing contract manufacturing operations (CMOs). There are benefits and pitfalls to both approaches, with the correct decision founded in […]
In Nebraska, Flint Hills Resources will invest more than $50M in its Fairmont, Neb. ethanol plant to install a new technology that will produce a high protein animal and fish feed ingredient from a portion of the plant’s distiller grains, a co-product of ethanol production. The project is one of the largest investments in co-product […]
The makers of biodiesel, America’s favorite advanced biofuel, are gathering this week in San Diego for the leading annual gathering on the future of diesel-side renewable fuels, and how the quest for energy security, domestic jobs and reduced greenhouse gas emissions is coming along. As the National Biodiesel Conference opened, NBB’s new CEO Donnell Rehagen […]
Last week we reported that Toray Industries has teamed with Mitsui to produce cellulosic sugars from bagasse leftover from the sugar production process at Thai sugar mills. The companies will invest up to $51 million to build one of the world’s largest bagasse-based cellulosic sugar plants. Producing 1,400 tons of cellulosic sugar annually that will be used […]
