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Press release - 26/09/2023 Local Food Systems: How sustainable are the business models for local food chains?
Mobile units for processing fruit and vegetables on-site may play an important role in food supply in 2035. The EU’s FOX project investigated the form that such local food chains might take. To this end, Fraunhofer ISI developed future scenarios that could be used to test the viability of business models for regional food processing and distribution.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/local-food-systems-how-sustainable-are-business-models-local-food-chains -
Press release - 09/10/2023 Microalgae: Environmentally friendly and healthy alternative to fish
Researchers at the University of Hohenheim are working on an alternative to fish consisting of microalgae. Advantage: Microalgae have high quality ingredients and also contribute to carbon storage.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/microalgae-environmentally-friendly-and-healthy-alternative-fish -
Press release - 25/09/2023 Autonomous outdoor navigation for machines used in farming, livestock and forestry
Autonomous and robust navigation is an essential capability for agricultural robots or machines that are to reach a new level of autonomy to manoeuver safely and reliably in their environment. Fraunhofer IPA will showcase what is currently technologically and economically feasible with live demos at agritechnica, the agricultural trade fair taking place in Hanover from November 12 to 18, 2023.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/autonomous-outdoor-navigation-machines-used-farming-livestock-and-forestry -
Press release - 11/10/2023 Land Use: Producing More Food and Storing More Carbon
Doubling food production, saving water, and increasing carbon storage capacity – this may sound paradoxical, but would be theoretically feasible. Reaching this goal, however, would require a radical spatial reorganization of land use. This is the conclusion of researchers from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology (HeiGIT) of Heidelberg University.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/landnutzung-mehr-nahrung-produzieren-und-gleichzeitig-mehr-kohlenstoff-speichern -
Press release - 29/09/2023 Ecological alignment of Artificial Intelligence
The European Parliament’s amendments to the proposal for a Regulation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be defined as a socio-ecological turnaround compared to the European Commission’s existing draft. The parliamentary draft proposes a series of environmental and climate-related provisions which, in the Oeko-Institut’s view, are feasible and technically achievable. The Oeko-Institut has reviewed these proposals in a Policy Paper.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/ecological-alignment-artificial-intelligence -
Press release - 14/09/2023 The Cultivated B Initiated Pre-Submission Process towards EFSA Certification for Cultivated Sausage
The Cultivated B (TCB) began discussions with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and officially entered the pre-submission process for novel food approval of a novel or non-farmed sausage product. Subsequent to the official submission, TCB will emerge as world’s first biotech company to apply for EFSA certification for cultivated meat. This is a pivotal first step in the evolution of the cultivated meat market.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/cultivated-b-initiated-pre-submission-process-towards-efsa-certification-cultivated-sausage -
Press release - 27/10/2023 Lignin coating makes Geotextiles made from environmentally friendly natural fibers durable
Textiles are a given in civil engineering. Until now, textiles made of resistant synthetic fibers have been used for this purpose, having a long lifetime. For some applications, however, it would not only be sufficient but even desirable for the auxiliary textile to degrade when it has done its job. Natural fibers, in contrast, often decompose too quickly. The DITF are developing a bio-based protective coating that extends their service life.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/lignin-coating-makes-geotextiles-made-environmentally-friendly-natural-fibers-durable -
Recent research shows effectiveness of biosurfactants - 28/11/2023 Combating oil spills - biosurfactants can stimulate microbial oil degradation
Oil spills from drilling platforms and tankers cause environmental pollution and a loss of biodiversity. Researchers at the University of Stuttgart, among others, are now using biosurfactants to improve the management of oil spills: their latest research shows that biosurfactants lead to better microbiological degradation of oil components in seawater compared to conventional dispersants.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/combating-oil-spills-biosurfactants-can-stimulate-microbial-oil-degradation -
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ProGrün project - 30/12/2023 Using proteins extracted from grassland cuttings to produce animal feed and exploit by-product streams
Animal feed often contains protein from soy and importing it causes major environmental harm. In the ProGrün project, researchers at the University of Hohenheim, including a work group led by Prof. Dr. Andrea Kruse, are developing a scalable technological process to extract proteins from grassland cuttings and use them to make sustainable animal feed produced in the region where it will be used.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/using-proteins-extracted-grassland-cuttings-produce-animal-feed-and-exploit-product-streams -
Press release - 13/01/2022 Turning harmful CO2 into useful chemicals
Making important raw materials for fine chemicals out of carbon dioxide really works. As part of the Max Planck collaborative project eBioCO2n, a team of researchers from Fraunhofer IGB have successfully performed a first ever fixation of CO2 via a multi-enzyme enzyme reaction driven by electricity yielding a prospective intermediate for the chemical industry. The process for electro-biocatalytic CO2 fixation was recently published and is…
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/turning-harmful-co2-useful-chemicals -
Press release - 22/11/2021 Wound Lightness - Towards a novel material culture
The Cluster of Excellence IntCDC of the University of Stuttgart presents the "Maison Fibre" at the International Architecture Exhibition Venice. The full-scale inhabitable installation is made from robotically produced, fibrous building elements.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/gewickelte-leichtigkeit-neue-materialkultur-der-architektur -
Press release - 09/02/2022 Connecting fibres: The cellulose fibre industry impresses with innovation and vision
The annual highlight of the industry is the International Conference on Cellulose Fibres in Cologne (www.cellulose-fibres.eu), where the latest innovations were showcased last week: new cellulose fibre technologies for various feedstocks and a wide range of hygiene and textile products as well as alternatives to plastics and carbon fibre for lightweight constructions.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/connecting-fibres-cellulose-fibre-industry-impresses-innovation-and-vision -
Press release - 02/03/2022 Pilot project RoKKa uses wastewater to produce fertiliser and raw materials
The Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector is funding the new research project RoKKa which is used to prove the viability of recovering raw materials from wastewater. This adds a crucial function to the scope of a conventional sewage treatment plant. Together with the operators of the sewage treatment plants in Erbach and Neu-Ulm, the project partners demonstrate the positive contribution towards climate protection…
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/die-klaeranlage-der-zukunft-heisst-bioraffinerie -
pre-start-up company Wheyfinery - 13/04/2022 Acid whey as a valuable raw material for platform chemicals and more
There is not much you can do with acid whey, which is why several million litres of it are disposed of every year. This is both costly and not sustainable. However, researchers at Tübingen University have shown: acid whey can be used to produce precursors for biofuels, fine chemicals and antimicrobial livestock feed additives. They have set up the pre-start-up company Wheyfinery in an endeavour to make their scalable biorefinery concept…
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/acid-whey-valuable-raw-material-platform-chemicals-and-more -
Lentil cultivation in a producers’ association - EIP-AGRI Rhizo-Linse project - 23/05/2022 From cultivation to market – lentils from the Swabian Alb
Complicated cultivation, fluctuating yields and complex cleaning: Leisa – as lentils are called in Swabian – are demanding. So to produce lentils economically, 130 farmers in the Swabian Alb have joined forces and set up the organic producers’ association Alb-Leisa. Their lentil harvests are processed and marketed by a company called Lauteracher Alb-Feld-Früchte.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/cultivation-market-lentils-swabian-alb -
Lentil cleaning - EIP-AGRI Rhizo-Linse project - 26/04/2022 Lentil cleaning in the Altdorf mill
The Altdorf mill, just under 7 km south of the city of Böblingen, has operated lentil cleaning facilities since 2019, the year that the Sessler mill in Renningen, 20 km further north, ceased all operations including lentil cleaning. After receiving a number of enquiries from farmers and local mills, brothers Karl and Jörg Ruthardt took a chance and launched a lentil cleaning operation in addition to their mill and farm shop business.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/lentil-cleaning-altdorf-mill -
Press release - 02/02/2022 Animal Friends made of renewable resources
fischertechnik has set a new milestone with the Animal Friends construction kit, as the building blocks and packaging are largely made of renewable resources and the models depict playful animals in new colours. The company is thereby taking another major step towards sustainability. The bio-based building set recently won the Toy Award, one of the most prestigious awards in the industry.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/animal-friends-aus-nachwachsenden-rohstoffen -
Lentil cultivation and cleaning on the farm - EIP-AGRI Rhizo-Linse project - 16/03/2022 Lentils return to the Heckengäu region
Lentils are among the oldest crop plants in Central European agriculture and were once a popular food in ancient Egypt, Persia and Mesopotamia. The legume was widespread in Germany until the mid-20th century, but has since disappeared completely from farmers’ fields. Over the past decade, lentils have reappeared as a crop grown locally and are cultivated in harmony with nature.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/lentils-return-heckengaeu-region -
Filament winding technology for sustainable construction - 06/04/2022 Robotic building with natural fibres
One of the greatest challenges in the construction industry is the transition to more environmentally friendly and resource-saving buildings. Researchers at the University of Stuttgart are combining state-of-the-art robotic filament winding technologies with ancient local crops to produce stable and sustainable lightweight structures from flax fibres.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/robotic-building-natural-fibres -
Project BW2Pro - 29/08/2022 Biowaste to Products: biorefinery transforms biowaste into new products
In 2020, Germany’s population collected over 5 million tonnes of biowaste. Most of this was composted, and some was fermented into biogas. Scientists in Baden-Württemberg think there's room for more. Within the project ‘Biowaste to Products’ (BW2Pro) they want to transform biowaste into new products in a biorefinery. The idea is to produce biodegradable plant pots, mulch material, fertilisers, enzymes and biobased plastics in addition to…
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/biowaste-products-biorefinery-transforms-biowaste-new-products -
Press release - 26/07/2022 Lavender cultivation on the Swabian alb: Essential oil and textiles from plant residues
In Provence, the lavender fields are in full bloom again. This blaze of color may soon also be seen in Baden-Württemberg. In a joint research project, the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF), the University of Hohenheim and the company naturamus are testing suitable lavender varieties and developing energy-efficient methods for producing essential oil from them.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/pm/lavender-cultivation-swabian-alb-essential-oil-and-textiles-plant-residues -
Sustainable nutrition - 05/09/2022 Insect pasta: eating healthily and improving the world at the same time
Insects on the dinner plate? Some people instantly dismiss the idea. Wrongly so, because in terms of animal welfare, ecological footprint and healthy nutrition, insect foods are much better than all other animal foods and are produced in a more controlled way. The fact that they can also taste really good is proven by the start-up Beneto Foods from Albstadt, which has developed protein-rich pasta in various flavours using cricket flour.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/news/insect-pasta-eating-healthily-and-improving-world-same-time -
Dossier - 19/10/2022 More food sustainability: crucial for people and for the environment
Strawberries in winter and imported apples? You can find them in most supermarkets. This is not sustainable. Looking to the future, the way we eat needs to change in many mundane ways – and this needs to happen quickly so that future generations will also be able to enjoy a planet that is worth living on. In Baden-Württemberg, alternative nutrition concepts are being worked at pace. Many creative ideas and innovative products already exist.
https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/more-food-sustainability-crucial-people-and-environment