The 2016 World Bio Markets Bio Business Awards are now accepting nominations for categories covering people, companies, and projects that have advanced the bioeconomy. The eight categories for the 2016 awards are: Biofuels Partnership of the Year; Bio-Based Brand of the Year; Breakthrough Bio-Based Technology Platform; WBM Bio-Based Business Person of the Year; Bio-Based Chemical Partnership of the Year; WBM Industry Champion 2016; Bio-Based Product...
February 5, 2016
Dates And Locations Of “Modernizing The Regulatory System For Biotechnology Products” Meetings Annou
On February 1, 2016, the dates and locations for the last two public engagement sessions discussing the "Modernizing the Regulatory System for Biotechnology Products" memorandum were announced. The first meeting occurred on October 30, 2015, and a record of the meeting is available on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website. The second of the three meetings will be held on March 9, 2016, at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Region 6 office in Dallas,...
February 5, 2016
Biotechnology: APHIS Seeks Comment on Potentially Significant Changes to Regulations Regarding GE Or
According to a Federal Register notice published on February 5, 2016, 81 Fed. Reg. 6225, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced its intent to "prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) in connection with potential changes to the regulations regarding the importation, interstate movement, and environmental release of certain genetically engineered [(GE)] organisms." The notice identifies...
There is still no definitive answer as to whether the green/sustainable chemistry provisions in S. 697, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, will survive the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives conference committee process as lawmakers confer and prepare the final compromise legislation of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform bill. Passed by the Senate on December 17, 2015, S.697 includes sustainable chemistry provisions in Section 27 entitled...
On January 19, 2016, Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc. (Elevance), a Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) member, announced the successful scale-up of a second-generation biorefinery technology of the Company's olefin metathesis technology, utilizing ethylene and natural oil feedstocks. Elevance collaborated with Versalis, XiMo AG, and Soneas to reach this milestone in the development of second-generation metathesis technology. "This significant accomplishment...
January 22, 2016
Biobased Chemicals: The Iowa Opportunity Report Calls For State Support Of Biorenewables
On January 14, 2016, a report titled "Biobased Chemicals: The Iowa Opportunity" was released by Iowa's Cultivation Corridor and the Iowa Biotechnology Association at the Iowa Statehouse. This report is based on research by Iowa State University professors and outlines opportunities for Iowa to capitalize on bioprocessing developments in the United States. While Iowa has the advantage of a strong biofuel industry, there is still a need for the Iowa legislature to address the needs...
January 22, 2016
Advancements In Algal Biomass Yield, Phase 2 Funding Announced
On January 15, 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $15 million in funding for the development of algal biofuel intermediate technologies. Technology applicants should be likely to produce 3,700 gallons of algal biofuel intermediate per acre per year on an annualized average basis in an outdoor test environment by 2020. Applicants should also address a topic area within the priority areas of strain/productivity improvement; improvements in pre-processing technologies...
January 22, 2016
Navy Launches “Great Green Fleet” Featuring Biofuel Powered Ships
On January 20, 2016, U.S. Navy (Navy) Secretary Ray Mabus and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack launched a Carrier Strike Group (CSG) of ships running up to 50 percent biofuels as part of the "Great Green Fleet" (GGF) initiative. For now, the majority of the ships will run on a mix of 90 percent petroleum and 10 percent biofuels, partially due to the low price of oil as well as a law prohibiting the mass purchase of biofuels that are not cost competitive with...
On January 5, 2016, the American Petroleum Institute (API) released its annual State of American Energy 2016 report while emphasizing a need to either amend or repeal EPA’s RFS and a need to promote energy infrastructure development. Jack Gerard, API President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), spoke at API’s Sixth Annual State of American Energy event stating the RFS is a “relic of our nation's era of energy dependency that poses a direct threat to our nation's...
January 15, 2016
Biofuel, Corn, And Sorghum Farmers Challenge Lowered RFS Volumes
On January 8, 2016, seven biofuel and agriculture groups requested the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to review the Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) for 2014, 2015, and 2016. The Petition was filed by Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Americans for Clean Energy, American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association, National Sorghum Producers, and the Renewable Fuels Association. The groups intend to challenge the authority of EPA to set...