The USDA has released a report showing the biobased products industry contributed $393 billion and 4.2 million jobs to the American economy in 2014. That’s a growth of 220,000 jobs and $24 billion over 2013. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has found the biobased economy to be one of the four pillars that support the rural economy of the U.S. “When USDA released … Read More
Nebraska a Biobased Industry Leader
Nebraska is ramping up its bio-based partnerships. According to a recent Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), bioscience companies employ more than 16,000 people in the state with the industry growing at a faster pace than the national average. For instance, several global and national companies are already located in Nebraska, including: NatureWorks (corn-based plastics), Novozymes (enzyme technology), Purac (lactic … Read More
Bio-Based Oil Being Tested in Federal Vehicles
According to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) the Department of Defense is now testing bio-based oil in federal vehicles, reports the American Soybean Association. Currently tests include oil made from a 25-40 percent mix of products derived from canola or soybean oil, as well as animal fat. Tests are being conducted at four Air Force bases and a Department of … Read More
DuPont and Caribou Biosciences Create Alliance
A strategic alliance has been announced between DuPont and Caribou Biosciences, a leading developer of CRISPR-Cas technologies for genome editing. The two companies will share respective patent portfolios; DuPont will have exclusive intellectual property rights to technology for row crops and non-exclusive right for other ag and bioscience applications. The partnership will also include a multi-year research agreement with scientists … Read More
Clariant Opens Biotech Research Center
A new Group Biotechnology Research Center has been opened near Munich. Clariant, a leader in specialty chemicals, hosted a ceremony in which the key to the facility was symbolically handed over to CEO Hariolf Kottmann and the Head of Clariant’s Group Biotechonology Andre Koltermann. “Alongside the Clariant Innovation Center (CIC) in Frankfurt, the new Clariant Biotech Center (CBC) is another … Read More
New Patent for Bio Based Plastics
The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) has just been issued a new patent relating to the imporved process used in making bio plastics. The patent specifically pertains to the compound isosorbide, which allows the use of more bio material in plastics and improves other properties, such as a plastic’s melting temperature. The patent, titled “Dianhydrosugar Production Process,” eliminates the need for an … Read More
BASF Compostable Polymers on Display at CSS
BASF has a biodegradable solution for plastics with ecovio® and ecoflex® technology. Ruth Watts, product marketing manager for BASF’s Biopolymers Group in North America, was at last week’s ASTA CSS & Seed Expo demonstrating the use of this type of packaging for agricultural applications. “This (ecovio) is new technology by BASF,” Watts explained, adding that ecoflex was the very first … Read More
Ag Allies Ask President to Reign in EPA on Biofuels Cuts
In a letter sent to President Obama this week, the National Corn Growers Association and several agricultural allies asked him to intervene with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding its proposed cuts in the 2014 volume obligations for the Renewable Fuel Standard. “The blending targets and the methodology in your administration’s proposed rule are already causing significant harm to the … Read More
Biologics Business is Booming
The market for biopesticides and other biologics in crop protection is growing fast and the industry is making significant investments in more research and development for these types of products. “We’re growing globally about 15-16% per year, here in the U.S. about 14% per year,” says Biopesticide Industry Alliance executive director Bill Stoneman. “Starting from a small base, we’re about … Read More
Corn Ethanol Project in Brazil Will Feature Precision Ag
Alden, Iowa-based Summit Group announced a project to build the first modern corn ethanol plant in Brazil during the 2014 Farm Progress Show. The project will consist of a US$140 million ethanol plant near Lucas do Rio Verde in Mato Grosso, a leading agricultural state in west central Brazil and the country’s largest producer of corn and soybeans. The project … Read More
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