All Knowledge & Insights By Date

? DuPont, "DuPont And Quad County Corn Processors Sign Multi Year Enzyme Supply Contract For Cellulosic Biofuel" ? Neste, "Neste's NEXBTL Renewable Diesel to Power City of Oakland's Municipal Fleet" ? HEXPOL, "HEXPOL TPE Launch TPE Compounds Based on High Levels of Renewable Content" ? Amyris, "Amyris Achieves Record Low Cost Farnesene Production" ? The Chronicle, "Duke Scientists Making Algae Biofuel More Viable" ? ICIS, "Abengoa To...

On October 15, 2015, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Wilson Center) hosted “Leveraging Synthetic Biology’s Promise and Managing Potential Risk,” a panel discussion featuring Lynn L. Bergeson, Sheryl Lindros Dolan, and Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., of B&C, and Todd Kuiken, Ph.D., Senior Program Associate, Synthetic Biology Project, Wilson Center. The event coincided with the release of “The DNA of the U.S. Regulatory...

On October 15, 2015, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Wilson Center) hosted “Leveraging Synthetic Biology’s Promise and Managing Potential Risk,” a panel discussion featuring Lynn L. Bergeson, Sheryl Lindros Dolan, and Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., of B&C, and Todd Kuiken, Ph.D., Senior Program Associate, Synthetic Biology Project, Wilson Center. The event coincided with the release of “The DNA of the U.S. Regulatory...

On October 15, 2015, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Wilson Center) hosted “Leveraging Synthetic Biology’s Promise and Managing Potential Risk,” a panel discussion featuring Lynn L. Bergeson, Sheryl Lindros Dolan, and Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., of B&C, and Todd Kuiken, Ph.D., Senior Program Associate, Synthetic Biology Project, Wilson Center.  The event coincided with the release of “The DNA of...

? Solegear, " Solegear Receives USDA Biopreferred® Approval for Polysole® and Traverse® Bioplastics" ? Avery Dennison, " Avery Dennison Introduces Bio-Based PE Film for Label Applications" ? The University of Adelaide, "Tequila Plant Shows Promise for Biofuel" ? Globe Newswire, " Alliance Bioenergy Plus Inc. Announces a Breakthrough in Cellulose to Sugar Conversion Rates and Efficiencies" ? Plastics Today, " First bio!CAR Conference Hailed...

Panel Discussion to Be Held Wednesday, October 15, 2015, from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. (EDT) On October 15, 2015, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Wilson Center) will host "Leveraging Synthetic Biology's Promise and Managing Potential Risk," a panel discussion featuring Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner of Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), and Todd Kuiken, Ph.D., Senior Program Associate, Synthetic Biology Project, Wilson Center. The event coincides with...

Panel Discussion to Be Held Wednesday, October 15, 2015, from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. (EDT) On October 15, 2015, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Wilson Center) will host "Leveraging Synthetic Biology's Promise and Managing Potential Risk," a panel discussion featuring Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner of Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), and Todd Kuiken, Ph.D., Senior Program Associate, Synthetic Biology Project, Wilson Center. The event coincides with...

Other News ? Food Navigator USA, "Solazyme Unveils Thrive, the First Culinary Algae Oil in the Market and its First Consumer Food Brand" ? UNL Today, "UNL Leads $13.5M Project to Enhance Sorghum for Biofuel" ? Michigan State University, "MSU Partners With ExxonMobil To Advance Biofuel Research" ? Sumitomo Corporation, "Construction Of A Wood Biomass Power Plant In Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture" ? Iowa Corn, "Iowa Corn Promotion Board Patent...

The Algae Biomass Summit, held in Washington, D.C. last week and claimed by organizers as the largest algae gathering in the world, featured the announcement of a new X-Prize to incentivize development of zero-carbon energy technologies, and some very honest and illuminating plenary sessions featuring leaders of algae businesses. More reports can be found on the Algae Biomass Organization's blog and by perusing the crowd-sourced reporting at Twitter #ABS15. BRAG's Dr. Richard E. Engler...

On October 6, 2015, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit relevant data and information, including case studies that may assist in the development of the proposed update to the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology (CF). The RFI will assist OSTP in clarifying the current roles and responsibilities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and...

The July 31, 2015, Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report spoke with James V. Aidala regarding the progress of Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) modernization legislation. James Aidala, senior government affairs consultant with the law firm  Bergeson & Campbell P.C., said reaching an agreement on preemption is key. Aidala was associate assistant administrator of the EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances from 1993 to 2000, and previously worked in the...

? European Commission: CORDIS, "EU-Funded Demo Plants Show Potential of Algae as Sustainable Energy Source" ? Gevo, "Gevo Announces Sales of Isooctene to BCD Chemie, a Subsidiary of Brenntag: Commences Relationship to Begin the Marketing of Renewable Hydrocarbons into Europe" ? Genomatica, "BASF and Genomatica Expand License Agreement for 1,4-Butanediol (BDO) From Renewable Feedstock" ? UPM Biofuels, "UPM BioVerno Renewable Diesel Reduces Tailpipe Emissions...

Stakeholders working with algae to produce chemicals and fuels should take note of these upcoming opportunities: EPA's "Workshop for Public Input on Considerations for Risk Assessment of Genetically Engineered Algae," September 30, 2015. Registration closes on September 25, 2015;   The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) from algae stakeholders regarding their views on the requirements necessary to develop reliable and sustainable supplies of...

? Science Direct, "Rethinking Sustainable Biofuel Marketing To Titivate Commercial Interests (Abstract Only)" ? Olleco, "Olleco Completes Successful Acquisition Of Convert2Green Ltd" ? BASF, "BASF Launches New Bio-Based Polyol For VOC Free* 2K PU Applications" ? Torrington Telegram, "Wyoming Ethanol To Suspend Operations" ? Clariant, "Clariant On Course For Growth In North America" ? Times of India, "NMC Set To Launch Ethanol Buses Without...

On August 25, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a Public Meeting and Opportunity for Public Comment on Considerations for Risk Assessment of Genetically Engineered Algae. The public meeting, entitled "Workshop for Public Input on Considerations for Risk Assessment of Genetically Engineered Algae," is intended to receive public input and comments on the data needs of EPA to support risk assessments of biotechnology...

"Legal, Regulatory & Political Considerations In Commercializing Algal Products" Panel Presented At ABO, October 1, 2015 Hear BRAG's Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., and other panelists on Thursday, October 1, at the Algae Biomass Summit, which runs September 29 - October 2, 2015, in Washington, D.C. This is where leading producers of algae products go to network with industry suppliers and technology providers, where project developers converse with utility executives, and where...

On August 26, 2015, Malama Composites, Inc. (Malama) announced that its Studio BioFoam® product had earned the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certified Biobased Product Label. This news was followed by a second announcement on August 27, 2015, when another biobased foam produced by Malama, Pacific BioFoam™, also received the Biobased Product Label from the USDA. Malama is a Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) member that develops and manufactures foams...

A September 3, 2015, Inside EPA article regarding EPA’s efforts to improve how it reviews companies’ proposals to develop synthetic biology products, and specifically biotech algae, featured quotes from Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.: In a recent memo to clients, the law firm Bergeson & Campbell calls the announcement of the algae guide update "hugely important for the industrial biotechnology communities," adding that "EPA's announcement suggests a broader Agency initiative is...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice in the August 25, 2015, Federal Register announcing a public meeting on September 30, 2015, to receive public input and comments on EPA's data needs to support risk assessments of biotechnology products subject to oversight under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that make use of genetically engineered algae and cyanobacteria. The notice states that the workshop will inform an update to an EPA...

On August 6, 2015, BioAmber Inc. and Mitsui & Co., Ltd announced the opening of their joint succinic acid plant in Sarnia, Ontario. This joint venture cost approximately $141.5 million to build and has a capacity of 30,000 tons of succinic acid per year, making it the world's largest succinic acid plant. The plant uses technology to produce succinic acid from sugar at a lower cost than traditional petroleum-based production. The chemical intermediary is used in the production of...

On August 3, 2015, Forest Concepts, LLC received a two-year, $499,997 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The contract will support the development of predictive control systems for biomass dryers that will increase energy efficiency and provide significant cost savings. The technologies being developed by the project can be used in wood pellet and solid biofuel product, as well as in second-generation thermochemical...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has posted a document concerning its development of a project intended to support public dialog concerning the development and use of biotechnology.  EPA has oversight responsibility for the production and use of intergeneric cyanobacteria, eukaryotic microalgae, and their products by application of genetic engineering approaches.  EPA’s recently posted document, US Environmental Protection Agency Biotechnology Algae Project, states...

The July 31, 2015, Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report spoke with Lynn L. Bergeson regarding EPA’s plans to develop updated guidance for companies making chemicals with genetically engineered microorganisms under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). “EPA's posting of the synbio algae project is hugely important for the industrial biotechnology and synthetic biology communities,” Lynn  Bergeson, managing partner of Bergeson  & Campbell P.C., told Bloomberg BNA...

Richard E. Engler, Ph.D, Senior Chemist with B&C and advisor to BRAG, delivered an instructive and practical session for biobased product stakeholders at the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference on July 16, 2015, covering what TSCA regulates, how the TSCA Inventory works, key nomenclature issues for chemicals made from renewable, biomass, or waste feedstocks, and presenting helpful checklists and case studies to help stakeholders understand what products and...

? Ghent Bio-Economy Valley, "EU Council Formally Approves New Biofuel Rules" ? DuPont, "DuPont And New Tianlong Industry Co., Ltd. Sign Historic Deal to Bring Cellulosic Ethanol Technology to China" ? Amyris, "Amyris Announces Multi-Year, Multi-Million-Dollar Agreement with Global Food Ingredients Supplier" ? Global Renewable Fuels Alliance, "UNICA Joins Global Renewable Fuels Alliance" ? Advanced Biofuels Business Council, "AEC Expands Membership,...

On July 22, 2015, EPA announced a proposed rule for the Partial Exemption of Certain Chemical Substances from Reporting Additional Chemical Data. If enacted, this rule will exempt the following six biobased chemicals from reporting additional information under the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule: Fatty acids, C14-18 and C16-18 unsaturated, methyl esters (Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CASRN) 67762-26-9); Fatty acids, C16-18 and C-18 unsaturated, methyl esters (CASRN 67762-38-3);...

? United, "United Airlines Purchases Stake In Fulcrum BioEnergy With $30 Million Investment" ? Microvi, "Innovative Microvi Bio-Ethanol Technology Validated At Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory" ? Avantium, "Avantium's PEF Plastic At The EXPO 2015 In Milan" ? The Swedish Knowledge Centre for Renewable Transportation Fuels, "New Research Programs For Cheaper And More Efficient Biofuels" ? IOPScience: Environmental Research Letters, "Comparative...

On July 9, 2015, the DOE announced a public workshop to collect information about challenges that occur during coproduction of biobased chemicals, products, and biofuels. The Bioproducts to Enable Biofuels Workshop was organized by the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and will cover the following topics: Identifying and evaluating economic drivers for producing bioproducts.   Identifying and prioritizing targets for bioproducts produced from biofuel waste streams, coproduced with...

With little fanfare or advanced notice to the general public, on July 2, 2015, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Council on Environmental Quality issued a memorandum directing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to update the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology....

With little fanfare or advanced notice to the general public, on July 2, 2015, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Council on Environmental Quality issued a memorandum directing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to update the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of...

? Energy.gov, "EERE Energy Impacts: Biorefineries Give Local Farmers Opportunities for Additional Income" ? BIO, "Biotechnology Industry Organization to Become Biotechnology Innovation Organization" ? Bio-Based Industries, "New €200 Million EU Call for Bioeconomy Proposals Launched on Brussels Info Day" ? Verdezyne, "Verdezyne Earns USDA Certified Biobased Product Certification and Label" ? Green Plains, "Green Plains Partners LP Announces...

ACS Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference, July 14-16, 2015, North Bethesda, Maryland The longest running green chemistry conference in the United States, American Chemical Society Green Chemistry & Engineering (GC&E) Conference invites scientists, decision-makers, students, and advocates to come together, compare findings, and discuss the science of the future. BRAG is a proud sponsor. Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., will present a session on July 16, 2015, regarding how the Toxic...

With the 20th Annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards (PGCCA) ceremony drawing near, the Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group's (BRAG®) Biobased News and Policy Report decided to go back and revisit some early winners to see what has become of the award-winning product or technology. We will be running a new story each week as we approach this year's awards ceremony, occurring July 13, 2015, at 4:00 p.m. (EDT), at the National Academies of Sciences in...

On June 17, 2015, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the release of a report to congress that builds on the Why Biobased? report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2014. The new report, An Economic Impact Analysis of the U.S. Biobased Products Industry, shows that in 2013, the U.S. biobased industry added $369 billion dollars and four million jobs to the economy. The biobased products industry is comprised of many significant contributors to the U.S. economy...

At the World Expo in Milan, Italy, on June 3, 2015, The Coca-Cola Company (Coca-Cola) unveiled the world's first 100% plant material polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottle. Coca-Cola has been using the 30% plant material PlantBottle™ since 2009, so this is the first bottle that is made completely from renewable materials while functioning exactly as a traditional PET bottle. It is estimated that the previous iteration of the PlantBottle™ reduced carbon dioxide emissions...

On June 11, 2015, the European Union (EU) provided UPM's ValChem project with €13.1 million to demonstrate the wood to chemicals value chain. ValChem is working to produce chemical building blocks and lignin from wood, resulting in a sustainable integrated process to produce economically viable biochemicals. UPM will work with Sekab, METabolic EXplorer, and Technische Universität Darmstadt on the ValChem project, which has a budget of €18.5 million. ValChem will use...

On June 15, 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued final amendments to the regulations concerning the Voluntary Labeling Program for Biobased Products. The rule is intended to incorporate statutory amendments to Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act signed into law on February 2, 2014. Among other changes, USDA has deleted the definitions of "BioPreferred product," "Designated item," and "Mature market products" and revised the...

B&C has prepared and serviced this press release based on information publicly available from EPA and ACS. We have no involvement in or knowledge of the award selection process. Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and The Acta Group (Acta®) are deeply committed to supporting the development of greener, more sustainable chemical processes and products, and so we are pleased to help spread the news about a tremendous success story, featuring scientists from industry,...

? CHS, "CHS Acquires Patriot Renewable Fuels Ethanol Plant" ? Oak Ridge National Laboratory, "BESC, Mascoma Develop Revolutionary Microbe For Biofuel Production" ? WSU News, "Alaska Airlines Plans Biofuel Test Flight In WSU Partnership" ? Solvay, "Solvay Opens Biotechnology Laboratory In Brazil To Boost Innovation In Sustainable Chemistry From Biomass" ? Reuters, "ADM Suspends German Biodiesel Plant Output On Uncertain Demand" ? st1, "St1...

On May 22, 2015, the California State Assembly passed the Plastic Microbeads Nuisance Prevention Law, a bill designed to ban the use of microbeads in beauty products and prevent the environment harm that occurs when they inevitably end up in waterways. California is not the first state to restrict microbeads as Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, and Colorado have also done so and several other states are in the process of creating bans. The big difference with this legislation is that California is...

On June 1, 2015, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) voted to pass the new Low iLUC Risk Biomass Criteria and Compliance Indicators standard. The standard was approved as an optional module for those undergoing RSB certification, and will be used to show that biomass is produced with low indirect land use change (iLUC), resulting in little impact on food production and biodiversity. It is important to demonstrate how iLUC in order to prove that a biobased alternative to a...

B&C has no involvement in or knowledge of the award selection process. This year's Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge winners will be announced at the 20th Annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Ceremony, July 13, 2015, at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge, administered through a partnership between EPA and the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute® (ACS GCI), promotes the environmental and...

On May 21, 2015, Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2015 (S. 1447). The legislation is intended to help coordinate and expand the many different programs that have been enacted across the federal government to promote and assist the development of sustainable chemistry that reduces risks to human health and benefits the environment. The bill would create a federal Interagency Work Group (IWG), lead by the...

Part 3 of Biofuels Digest's "Thought Leadership" series highlighting some of the ways the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) applies to biobased products was published May 18, 2015. Summaries of the first two "TSCA and the Bioeconomy" articles, written by Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) Senior Policy Advisor and former head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Green Chemistry program, Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., were summarized...

On May 8, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a direct final rule for 25 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMN), including several biobased chemical substances. The rulemaking under Section 5, known as a significant new use rule or SNUR, requires persons who intend to manufacture (including import) or process any of these 25 chemical substances for an activity that is designated in the SNUR as a significant new use to notify EPA at least...

By Lynn L. Bergeson and Richard E. Engler, Ph.D.   On May 8, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated through a direct final rule significant new use rules (SNUR) for 25 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMN).  The SNURs require persons who intend to manufacture (including import) or process any of these 25 chemical substances for an activity that is designated in the SNUR as a significant new use to notify EPA at least 90 days...

By Lynn L. Bergeson   The American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) and the Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3) recently released a report that evaluates the potential business and economic value of “safer chemistry.”  The report, Making the Business & Economic Case for Safer Chemistry, concludes that market growth, capital flows, and market demand show upward trajectories during the past five years.  Large corporations, specifically including Dow,...

On May 8, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated through a direct final rule significant new use rules (SNUR) for 25 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMN).  The SNURs require persons who intend to manufacture (including import) or process any of these 25 chemical substances for an activity that is designated in the SNUR as a significant new use to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity.  The required...

? PR Newswire, "Cargill Acquires OPX Biotechnologies' Fermentation Technology" ? Bio-Based Industries: Public-Private Partnership, "Bio-Based Industries Workshop Selected For Open Days" ? Plastics Today, "Bayer MaterialScience Introduces Biobased PU for Fashion and Footwear" ? DesignNews, "Chemical Industry, Environmentalists Unite on Toxic Substances Control Act Legislation" ? Times-Call Business, "Cargill Acquires Boulder-based OPX...

Biofuels Digest is running a "Thought Leadership" series of articles highlighting some of the ways the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) applies to biobased products. The articles, written by Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) Senior Policy Advisor and former head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Green Chemistry program, Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., cover key points throughout the manufacturing and commercialization process at which...