All Knowledge & Insights By Date

On March 25, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finally weighed-in on the murky and often misunderstood topic of label claims for plant regulators and plant biostimulants in posting its Draft Guidance for Plant Regulator Label Claims, Including Plant Biostimulants in Docket # EPA-HQ-OPP-2018-0258.  EPA issued the notice of availability in the Federal Register on March 27, 2019.  84 Fed. Reg. 11538.  EPA states that the draft...

Plastics News, “Sealed Air, Kuraray Join Forces for Plant-based Packaging” CNBC, “Starbucks Announces Trials for Recyclable and Compostable Cups” Baltimore Sun, “Maryland Senate Passes Renewable Energy Bill; House Outcome Uncertain” ScienceDaily, “First Evidence Bacterial-induced Apoptosis in Algae” Coatings World, “Clariant Launches First Bio-based Pigment Red 254” North Carolina Biotechnology Center, “bluebird bio Dedicates New...

CNBC, “Trump Energy Secretary Rick Perry ‘Absolutely’ Would Talk with Ocasio-Cortez About Green New Deal” Reuters, “Malaysia Threatens WTO Challenge to EU’s Move to Drop Palm Biofuel” CompositesWorld, “Bio4self Bio-based Autocomposite Wins JEC Innovation Award” Feedstuffs, “EPA’s RFS Waivers Cut Corn Demand by 900m bu.” NCSU News, “Transcription Factor Network Gets to Heart of Wood Formation” NHK World-Japan,...

K5News, “Port of Seattle Pushing to Use More Biofuels on Flights” Sioux City Journal, “Letter: Biofuels Industry Needs Support from Leaders in Washington” Trade Arabia, “Boeing to Offer Biofuel to Fly New Airplanes Home” Green Tech Media, “US Energy Storage Broke Records in 2018, but the Best Is Yet to Come” Reuters, “Senators Propose Bill to Extend Biodiesel, other Expired Tax Provisions” Olive Oil Times, “Environmentally...

By Lynn L. Bergeson On March 5, 2019, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) announced that their researchers have 3D printed live cells that are able to convert glucose to ethanol and carbon dioxide gas.  The substance produced from this conversion resembles beer.  This means that this newly developed technology can lead to highly efficient biocatalysis.  According to LLNL’s announcement, the use of live microbes rather than inorganic catalysts is advantageous...

By Lynn L. Bergeson On March 11, 2019, scientists at the University of California Berkeley (UC Berkeley) published a study on nature microbiology on the gut anatomical properties of the passalid beetle that helps it transform decaying wood into energy-rich materials.  Passalid beetles’ digestive tracts contain microbes that provide a roadmap for the production of affordable, nature-derived bioproducts and biofuels.  The structure of these beetles’ guts allows for different...

Biofuels International, “Coconut Biodiesel Increase Suggested by Lawmaker in Philippines” Chemical Engineering, “BP, Virent and Johnson Matthey Partner on Production of Bio-based Paraxylene” The Express Tribune, “Biotechnology Can Transform Pakistan’s Economy” Energy AgWired, “GROWMARK Offers Pre-blended E15 at More Terminals” Reuters, “U.S. EPA Gets 37 Bids for Small Refinery Waivers through Mid-February” PhysicsWorld,...

Green Car Congress, “DSM and Roquette Change Their Relationship for Bio-based Succinic Acid Production” Bio-based World News, “French Tech Firm Afyren Secures €60m to Develop Bio-based Acids” Bio-based World News, “New Dutch Programme Launched to Help European Biotech Start-ups” Phys.org, “AllThings.Bio Presents its Second Series of Videos Clips About Bio-based Products” Packaging Europe, “Biome Bioplastics and Futamura Present Biobased...

From June 11-13, 2019, the American Chemical Society (ACS) will be hosting their annual Green Chemistry and Engineering (GC&E) Conference and the International Conference on Green and Sustainable Chemistry in Reston, VA.  BRAG will be proudly presenting an abstract titled:  “The Role of Regulations in Circular Economy -- Challenge of New Chemical Bias.”  Under the “Entrepreneurs Driving the Circular Economy -- Opportunities and Challenges” GC&E...

Biofuels Digest, “Pilot Plant Pushes Forward Economic Research on Sugarcane Waste to Biofuels” Chemical Engineering Online, “Circa Group’s Commercial Demonstration Plant for ‘Green’ Solvent Comes Online” Biobased World News, “‘One-of-a-kind Peacock-inspired’ Bio-based Dress to Be Showcased at International Clothing Exhibition” Forbes, “Midwest Corn Farmers Put New Fertilizer Alternative to the Test” Labiotech.eu,...