Category: Top Stories

On the Move – Protera appoints Novozymes Exec, Transform Materials new CEO, Stora Enso VP & RSB Executive Director leave, AgBiome new board members, renewable energy lawyers move, 10 new bioeconomy additions to Lee Enterprises, Biotalys, Eagle Genomics

May 20, 2021 | Jim Lane

As birds migrate in the spring, we see many transitions going on in the bioeconomy right now too. From a new CEO for Transform Materials (a company that uses microwave plasma technology to convert natural gas into acetylene and hydrogen), some departures from Stora Enso and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials, new board members at […]

More meat without meat, fermentation-based silk, bioplastic water bottles, Adidas and Allbirds unlikely solemates and more: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the week of May 21st

May 20, 2021 | admin

Competitors coming together – Adidas and Allbirds – both shoe manufacturers are working together on green sneakers, a company working to commercialize biobased silk polymers, the European Union looking at waste feathers from poultry into usable materials, and three companies moving forward with lab-grown chicken fat, lab-grown pork, and cell-based fish. In today’s Digest, check […]

Anaerobic Digestion: An Economic & Environmental Benefit for Farm and Ranch Livestock Operations

May 19, 2021 | Jim Lane

By Bill Hagy, VP Federal Funding, Lee Enterprises Consulting Special to The Digest How can one determine if an anaerobic digester will provide a value-added economic opportunity as well as an environmental solution for my livestock operation? There are several factors to consider: Size of the farm or ranch operation and manure type Location of […]

Getting the Most from Sustainable Aviation Fuel

May 18, 2021 | Jim Lane

By Lloyd Ritter, Esq., Director, Green Capitol LLC Special to The Digest The aviation industry is currently responsible for less than 3% of total global carbon emissions, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). But with air travel expected to increase by more than 60 percent (compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels) by mid-century,[1] emissions will […]

ARPA-E invests $35M to slash biofuels carbon intensity as the Drive to Zero continues

May 17, 2021 | Jim Lane

In Washington, the United States Department of Energy awarded $35 million in funding that will help slash carbon emissions and scale up the volume and efficiency of renewable biofuel. The 15 awarded research projects are housed at colleges, universities, and labs across nine states and will advance new technologies to decarbonize biorefining processes used across […]

Former Kansas Abengoa ethanol plant to produce renewable diesel, Seaboard Energy, Neste, Phillips 66, Alto Ingredients, Haldor Topsoe, renewable diesel news

May 16, 2021 | admin

“You’ve always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself.” – Glinda We are only halfway through May 2021 and the renewable diesel news coming in is astounding. It’s like Glinda the Good Witch from Wizard of Oz is flying all over waving her wand turning facilities into renewable diesel […]

POET+FHRe=HUGE: POET in ‘exclusive discussions’ to buy FHR’s 800m gallon portfolio: advanced biorefining, economies of scale in focus

May 14, 2021 | admin

From South Dakota, The Digest has learned that POET is in exclusive discussions with Flint Hills Resources over the possible acquisition of their biofuels business. Flint Hills Resources is the nation’s fifth-largest bioethanol producer, and this acquisition would include all six of their bioethanol production facilities in Iowa and Nebraska with a combined annual capacity […]

3D printed bio-leather, bio-orthotics, hummus in space and more: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the week of May 14th

May 13, 2021 | admin

In a crazy week with gas shortages in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S. because of panic buying after a cyber-attack on the Colonial Pipeline, it’s enough to make us want to escape to the International Space Station – and maybe enjoy some hummus while we are up there as ISS astronauts are evaluating the […]

I Got 99 Problems but Product vs. Platform ain’t one: Introducing Microbes-as-a-Service

May 12, 2021 | Jim Lane

By Moji Karimi, CEO, Cemvita Factory Special to The Digest Any SynBio (synthetic biology) company is faced with three principal questions right off the bat: 1. Product or platform? A) Product: develop the microbe, build the plant, and sell the product. The end molecule is the revenue source B) Platform: develop the microbe and commercialize […]

Ginkgo’s Insanely Great $15B Deal, The Who & How Behind Biggest Sector Deal Ever

May 11, 2021 | Jim Lane

In Massachusetts, Ginkgo Bioworks and Soaring Eagle Acquisition Corp. have agreed to a business combination that will result in Ginkgo becoming a publicly-listed company. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021. The $15B valuation and $2.5B to Ginkgo in proceeds The transaction implies a pre-money equity valuation for Ginkgo of […]

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