In Spain, Inditex, the parent company of fast-fashion giant Zara, has made an undisclosed investment in Galy, a company looking to replace conventional cotton cultivation with cotton grown in a lab using plant cells. Galy’s technology produces high-quality cotton without the need for soil, water, or pesticides. By precisely controlling the growth conditions, the process […]
In Florida, packaging solutions company CREO Group has introduced Asili and AgaveGrow, two new biobased products for the horticulture market. AgaveGrow is engineered from a blend of biobased resin and recycled resins. The biobased content comes from agave, a byproduct of the tequila-making process. The containers are strong, automation-ready, and seamlessly integrate into existing commercial […]
In New York, recent design school graduate Jessica Thies has created a “living” footwear concept that absorbs carbon dioxide. Dubbed Synthiesis, the CO2-sequesting capability is achieved by using biobased ink mixed with engineered microalgae cells. “The benefit of adding living microalgae is they can photosynthesise to absorb carbon dioxide and could potentially be able to […]
In Chicago, agribusiness giant ADM and LG Chem have cancelled the planned lactic acid and polylactic acid joint venture projects they planned for Decatur, IL. First announced in 2022, ADM said in a press release that construction costs have since “skyrocketed.” The project was expected to produce 150,000 metric tons per year of high-purity corn-based […]
In Paris, the European Space Agency has 3D-printed Lego-shaped bricks from meteorite dust to evaluate the material’s potential for a lunar base construction material. The dust for the “Space Lego” was sourced from a 4.5 billion-year-old meteorite discovered in Africa over 20 years ago. ESA said the meteorite material is a stand-in for lunar […]
In Israel, startup Kokomodo aims to alleviate concerns over future supply of cacao, the source of cocoa for chocolate, by cultivating cocoa powder in bioreactors. Founded earlier this year by Tal Govrin, Kokomodo is a joint venture between The Kitchen FoodTech Hub and Tel Aviv-based Plantae Bioscience. Kokomodo’s process takes cells from select cacao beans […]
In New York, alternative leather company Uncaged Innovations has raised $5.6 million in a seed round. The funds will be used to support commercial launch and expand both production and staffing. The company uses proteins from grains and other biobased feedstocks to create fibers that mimic animal collagen in traditional leather. It has already partnered […]
In Japan, researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a concrete alternative from food waste, namely coffee grounds, banana peels, Chinese cabbage and orange skins. The material is made by drying and compressing the waste before mixing with water and “seasonings,” according to Yanko Design. The material is then further compressed in a mold […]
In Massachusetts, Foray Bioscience, a startup using plant cell culture to grow plant materials in a bioreactor, has raised $3 million in seed funding. Foray will use the funds to expand its predictive plant cell culture platform, launch product development engagements with select partners, and expand its Boston-based team. Foray’s goal is to grow plant […]
In Brussels, Syensqo has partnered with Allozymes, a Singaporean enzyme engineering start-up, to collaborate on biotechnology solutions for the home and personal care markets. The two companies will leverage Allozymes’ ultra-high throughput microfluidics platform for the engineering of enzymes and microbes. “By combining Allozymes technological capabilities with Syensqo’s application and market access expertise, we are […]
