Category: Chemicals & Materials

Meat milestone: Lab-grown chicken sees first commercial sale

Meat milestone: Lab-grown chicken sees first commercial sale

December 21, 2020 |

In Singapore, cultured meat leader Eat Just has claimed the world’s first commercial sale of a cultured meat product. The news comes just weeks after the company secured regulatory approval for its cultured chicken in Singapore, another world first.  The chicken became available on the menu of restaurant 1880 on Saturday, December 19. Based in […]

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Cell-based milk maker raises $6.2 million

Cell-based milk maker raises $6.2 million

December 21, 2020 |

In Vancouver, cell-based milk firm TurtleTree Labs Pte. Ltd. has raised $6.2 million in an oversubscribed $6.2 million Pre-A round.  TurtleTree, a portfolio company of alternative food investment issuer Eat Beyond Global Holdings,  plans to use the funds to grow its team and accelerate research and production of the highly functional, valuable bioactive proteins and […]

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Fly on the wall: Insects may be building material on Mars

Fly on the wall: Insects may be building material on Mars

December 21, 2020 |

In Singapore, a team of researchers are evaluating how chitin—a material found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans and bugs—can help solve the material sourcing challenges associated with Mars colonization.  Conventional building materials, such as concrete and steel, are astronomically expensive to send into space. To address the infrastructure needs of a such an expedition,, Javier […]

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Scottish project looks to squeeze value from every wee dram

Scottish project looks to squeeze value from every wee dram

December 21, 2020 |

In Scotland, researchers are evaluating how to promote circularity in the region’s most famous export—whiskey.  The Whisky Project, led by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre, includes Horizon Proteins, MiAlgae, and BioPower Technologies working to maximize value from whisky coproducts like draff and pot ale. All three companies already leverage whisky byproducts: Horizon Proteins extracts proteins […]

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Sewage sludge could be promising bioplastic feedstock

Sewage sludge could be promising bioplastic feedstock

December 21, 2020 |

In Texas, researchers at A&M University have deployed the bacterium Zobellella denitrificans ZD1 to convert sewage sludge into the biodegradable plastic polyhydroxybutyrate.  PHA is known to be produced by several bacterial species as a supplemental energy reserve in carbon-rich environments with limited nitrogen, phosphorous, or oxygen. Cost issues associated with bacterial production of bioplastics have […]

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Celeb-backed baby care brand picks Texas to make plant-based diapers

Celeb-backed baby care brand picks Texas to make plant-based diapers

December 21, 2020 |

In Texas, Hollywood heavy hitters Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard have picked Waco as the site of a new production and distribution facility for their natural baby care company, Hello Bello.  The pair’s product line includes diapers made from plant-based absorbents and sustainably harvested fluff pulp. Wipes, toiletries, and cleaning supplies are also being sold.  […]

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PANGAIA invests in renewable fibers startup

PANGAIA invests in renewable fibers startup

December 21, 2020 |

In London, sustainable apparel firm PANGAIA has invested in Kintra Fibers, a material science company making 100% biobased and compostable yarns. PANGAIA will help Kintra scale its sugar-based resin and yarn production process and develop fabric blends and apparel using Kintra’s technology.  PANGAIA  says Kintra’s resin and yarns can be seamlessly integrated into existing synthetic […]

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Wood is making a construction comeback in Finland

Wood is making a construction comeback in Finland

December 21, 2020 |

In Finland, architects and contractors are looking toward Scandinavia’s vast forests to reduce the carbon intensity of construction.  Business Finland says 80% of detached houses in Finland already have a wooden frame, and many public buildings are also constructed with timber.  The trade group also highlights new, wood-based technologies being explored in Finland. Woodio, for […]

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France ag minister poo-poos cultivated meat, asks Twitter-verse to think of the children

France ag minister poo-poos cultivated meat, asks Twitter-verse to think of the children

December 14, 2020 |

In France, Agricultural Minister Julien Denormandie has seemingly indicated he will not approve cell-based meat for sale. On social media, Denormandie wrote, “Meat comes from life, not from laboratories,” according to FoodNavigator.com. The testy tweet came shortly after Singapore became the first country to okay cell-based meat for consumer sale. Singapore Food Agency approved Eat […]

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Netanyahu endorses cultivated meat, says Israel will become “powerhouse” in the space

Netanyahu endorses cultivated meat, says Israel will become “powerhouse” in the space

December 14, 2020 |

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu became the first world leader to sample cell-based meat—which he subsequently gave rave reviews.  After tasting cultivated steak produced by Rehovot-based Aleph Farms, Prime Minister Netanyahu said the meat was “delicious and guilt-free,” adding that he couldn’t taste the difference between the cultivated version and conventional beef. “I have […]

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