Tag: Illinois

John Deere tests E98 ethanol tractor

John Deere tests E98 ethanol tractor

August 26, 2026 |

In Illinois, Progressive Farmer reports John Deere is expanding field testing of its E98-powered 8R tractor as it moves toward a potential commercial launch in four to five years. Four prototypes are currently operating in the United States, with additional testing planned in Nebraska and Illinois following successful 17-hour workdays in Kentucky. The 9.0-liter engine […]

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CABBI researchers genetically engineer yeast to boost biochemical production

CABBI researchers genetically engineer yeast to boost biochemical production

August 24, 2026 |

In Illinois, a team at the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) genetically engineered yeast to allow for the simultaneous transport of multiple sugars. Native yeast sugar transporters have a strong glucose preference and create a bottleneck for efficient biochemical and biofuel production. These transporters were replaced by SWEET7P in engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae capable of […]

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CABBI researchers find perennial bioenergy crops restoring soil after decades of corn

CABBI researchers find perennial bioenergy crops restoring soil after decades of corn

August 5, 2026 |

In Illinois, nearly two centuries of maize-based agriculture in the U.S. Midwest has halved soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks compared with tallgrass prairies native to the region. Replacing annual maize/soy cropping with perennial bioenergy grasses may partially reverse these resulting SOC deficits. A recent Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) study explored the […]

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CABBI researchers determine enzyme dosages for 2G ethanol production

CABBI researchers determine enzyme dosages for 2G ethanol production

August 4, 2026 |

In Illinois, lignocellulolytic enzymes are a primary cost constraint in second-generation ethanol biorefineries, accounting for up to 30% of operating expenses. Because it requires limited inputs and can achieve industrially viable ethanol titers and yields with an inexpensive nitrogen source, the hydrothermal pretreatment approach is a leading biorefinery technique. However, enzyme loadings reported in the […]

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ADM to expand North American oilseed crush capacity

ADM to expand North American oilseed crush capacity

July 30, 2026 |

In Illinois, ADM announced a series of investments designed to expand North American oilseed crush capacity and strengthen the company’s ability to meet growing demand for renewable fuels and other vegetable oil markets. ADM expects to expand capacity by making targeted improvements to existing operations, allowing the company to increase throughput while building on established […]

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CME Group to launch Sorghum basis futures

CME Group to launch Sorghum basis futures

July 21, 2026 |

In Illinois, CME Group announced plans to launch Sorghum basis futures. Trading is expected to start on August 24, 2026, pending regulatory review. The contracts will be physically delivered, with grain being loaded out by truck or rail from a network of elevators in Kansas, the nation’s largest sorghum-producing state, by using the established Kansas […]

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CABBI researchers use AI, synthetic biology, and a biofoundry to improve industrial enzymes

CABBI researchers use AI, synthetic biology, and a biofoundry to improve industrial enzymes

July 7, 2026 |

In Illinois, a team of researchers at the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) created a fast, user-friendly process to improve industrial enzymes. The researchers combined artificial intelligence (AI), synthetic biology, and a biofoundry. This combination allowed the scientists to overcome common issues with enzymes such as low efficiency and an enzyme’s inability […]

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Incobrasa’s Illinois expansion to become key soybean biodiesel feedstock processor

Incobrasa’s Illinois expansion to become key soybean biodiesel feedstock processor

June 22, 2026 |

In Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) celebrated Incobrasa Industries’ new soybean processing plant and solar array in Gilman, reinforcing Illinois’ position as the nation’s leading soybean-producing state and a growing hub for biofuels, food processing, and advanced agricultural manufacturing. The completed project includes a 170,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art […]

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Study shows transformtional impact of expanded biofuel demand on US ag

Study shows transformtional impact of expanded biofuel demand on US ag

June 17, 2026 |

In Illinois, a comprehensive new study from S&P Global Energy finds expanded biofuel demand could transform American agriculture, reignite rural economies and provide global food and energy security. Commissioned by U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action (USFRA), the research, titled “Fueling Agriculture: Biofuels as the Catalyst,” offers a detailed, evidence-based assessment of agriculture’s future and […]

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Ingredion to acquire Tate & Lyle for £3.7B

Ingredion to acquire Tate & Lyle for £3.7B

June 8, 2026 |

In Illinois, specialty ingredients maker Ingredion has announced a recommended all-cash offer to acquire Tate & Lyle PLC for £3.7 billion (US$5.0 billion). The deal would create an ingredients giant across food, beverage and industrial applications with approximately $10 billion in annual sales.  “Combining Ingredion and Tate & Lyle’s complementary portfolios establishes a global leader […]

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