US government recruiting plants to spy
The United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is looking to genetically modify plants to turn them into spies.
According to the Department of Defense...
Subaru joins ranks of automakers sued for rat-munched car parts
In Hawaii, a class-action lawsuit is seeking compensation for Subaru owners who allege their cars’ soy-based components were damaged by hungry rodents.
According to CarComplaints.com,...
UK company boasts natural solution to vanilla crisis
In the United Kingdom, Omega Ingredients has developed a natural vanilla flavor and extract as suppliers scramble for alternatives amid surging global prices.
Omega says...
Japan’s Sumitomo buys daisy-based insecticide maker
In Australia, Botanical Resources Australia has been acquired by Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical for $133 million.
Founded in 1996, BRA produces pyrethrins, a natural insecticide extracted...
Ontario glycogen plant set to open in summer 2018
In Ontario, Mirexus Biotechnologies is building a plant in Guelph with $1 million in funding from the government’s department of Agriculture and Agri-Food. The...
Perstorp rounds out polyols offering
In Sweden, Perstorp has launched renewable alternatives to trimethylolpropane and neopentyl glycol. Together with its existing biobased pentaerythritol, Perstorp says it is now the...
Canada calls shenanigans on compostable coffee pods
In Ontario, compostable coffee pods are ending up with regular trash because they don’t biodegrade quickly enough for current waste systems, and a new...
Bad news: You may have eaten beaver butt secretions
United Kingdom tabloid The Sun recently published a roundup of common food ingredients with disconcerting origins, including beaver anal gland secretions and crushed beetles.
According...
Turpentine plant sits idle amid wastewater kerfuffle
In Georgia, a new, $43-million turpentine plant built by France’s DRT remains idle as the company waits for a contract for the tens of...
Supermarket chain says corn starch shopping bags aren’t sustainable enough
In New Zealand, organic supermarket Commonsense is doing away with corn starch shopping bags in favor of “borrow” bags because the former requires the...