1 December 202526 November 2025 What Is Environmental Biotechnology? Although Widely Applied, a Clear Definition of the Term Is Still Needed This lack of definitional consensus has several practical implications for funding, policy formulation, disciplinary identity and interdisciplinary collaboration
16 September 202410 September 2024 Upcycling excess carbon dioxide with tiny microbes Researchers reporting in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering have rewired one such microbe to help tackle greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
17 April 202415 April 2024 Plastic-free vegan leather that dyes itself grown from bacteria This new process could also theoretically be adapted to have bacteria grow materials with various vibrant colours and patterns
2 May 202326 April 2023 Photosynthesis ‘hack’ could lead to new ways of generating renewable energy Researchers found that ‘rewiring’ of photosynthesis could improve how it deals with excess energy, and create new and more efficient ways of using its power
9 April 20206 April 2020 Researchers hope new seed-based miscanthus hybrid can be used as feedstock for biochemicals New hybrids of the biomass crop miscanthus will enable growers to meet the UK’s future energy and greenchemistry production needs
8 June 20186 June 2018 The ten green chemicals driving a disruptive new industry in Britain New report highlights how Britain can become a world leader in bio-based chemicals
23 February 201721 February 2017 ‘We could make that!’ — chance meeting leads to creation of antibiotic spider silk University of Nottingham researchers developed technique to produce chemically functionalised spider silk for medical devices
9 November 20167 November 2016 Inside the Scottish bioeconomy An interview with Roger Kilburn, CEO IBioIC Scotland
8 August 20164 August 2016 Evidencing the Bioeconomy BBSRC launching evidence-based review of both the contribution of the bioeconomy to the UK economy and the prospects for growth
16 June 201614 June 2016 Cellulose: new understanding could lead to tailored biofuels In the search for low emission plant-based fuels, new research may help avoid having to choose between growing crops for food or fuel
10 March 20164 March 2016 Researchers’ new advance in quest for second generation biofuels York researcher present first time molecular structure of key enzymes involved in break down tough cellulose-based materials
20 January 201619 January 2016 Biobased industry review 2015 NNFCC gives a track and analyse market, policy developments
30 November 20159 September 2021 CO2Chem: Response to the UK £1bn CCS competition being axed Carbon Dioxide Utilisation treating CO2 as commodity to gain profit, not as waste
11 September 201526 November 2015 Bioplastics as strong contenders in the market The pursuit of environmentally materials has been growing considerably
10 September 20158 September 2015 Slower melting ice cream in pipeline Scientists found new protein from friendly food bacteria that could enable ice creams to keep frozen for longer
26 August 201524 August 2015 What is the bioeconomy? The bioeconomy – transforming challenges into opportunity
12 August 201512 August 2015 CPI launches project to produce bio-methane from seaweed through Anaerobic Digestion The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) has announced that it is leading a £2.78 million UK based collaboration to help strengthen the UK’s position as a world leader in industrial biotechnology
5 August 20154 August 2015 Seaweed farm to begin production off Argyll coast PLANS have been unveiled that will see mainland Britain’s first commercial-scale seaweed farm set up in Scottish waters later this summer
16 June 201515 June 2015 Tech firm’s plant chemical work UK Company exploring the use of microalgae in industrial waste water treatment, as well as their potential as a chemical ingredient
27 May 201526 May 2015 NNFCC teams with Inspire Biotech to increase Consultancy capabilities Collaboration to focus on strategic bioeconomy development and industrial biotechnology
12 May 201511 May 2015 Can biotech provide the magic formula for the green economy? Genetic engineering could help cut our use of fossil fuels and resources with the right support from environmentalists and government
28 April 201527 April 2015 OpenPlant: Open technologies for plant synthetic biology Shaping working practices and norms in the early stages of plant synthetic biology
24 April 201523 April 2015 Biome Bioplastics leads £3m sustainable chemicals development programme Researchers consortium to harness industrial biotechnology techniques to produce bio-based chemicals from lignin at a scale suitable for industrial testing
20 April 201517 April 2015 Flourishing faster: How to make trees grow bigger and quicker Scientists have discovered a way to make trees grow bigger and faster, which could increase supplies of renewable resources and help trees cope with the effects of climate change
9 March 20159 March 2015 Government lays down the foundations for a UK Bioeconomy The UK Government has published a report detailing the enormous opportunities resulting from growing the bioeconomy
11 February 201510 February 2015 Unlocking one of Nature’s best-kept secrets: How plants make natural medicines Emergence of terpene cyclization in Artemisia annua
26 January 201523 January 2015 UK: £3 million grant for cutting edge biotechnology Scientists at The University of Manchester have been awarded nearly £3 million to develop new sustainable ways of manufacturing the chemicals used in thousands of our everyday products
8 January 20157 January 2015 NNFCC’s Review of 2014: Our bioeconomy highlights and heroes Increasing number of biobased chemicals and join established producers on global stage
10 December 20149 December 2014 Vince Cable announces £40M to continue Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst Research projects to support industries using biological processes, or those in which biological and chemical approaches are used in combination
4 December 20143 December 2014 Clean energy ‘bio batteries’ a step closer UEA researchers exploring how natural process work could inspire the design of modified proteins to induce microbial fuel cells for energy production
8 October 20147 October 2014 Growing your home – Sustainability at its best! Sustainable allrounder with features of high-performance fibres
29 September 201415 February 2018 Almac forms academia-industry collaboration to develop green chemicals Team of scientists to develop novel chemical via an enzymatic route from under-utilised natural oil
25 June 201425 June 2014 The British plan for the bioeconomy takes a step forward Lignocellulosic technologies are an important solution for enabling the use of non-food crops with the production of biofuels and bio-based chemicals
11 June 201410 June 2014 York scientists provide new insights into biomass breakdown Scientists at the University of York are playing a key role in the quest for a better understanding of how a recently discovered family of enzymes can degrade hard-to-digest biomass into its constituent sugars
2 June 20141 June 2014 Green and yellow – straw from oilseed as a new source of biofuels IFR researchers looking for ways breeding more “biofuel-ready” varieties of oilseed rape
24 February 201421 February 2014 Interview: Dr. Celia Caulcott, BBSRC A expert voice from the bio-based economy about the IB Catalyst initiative in the UK
20 January 201417 January 2014 2014 set to be a bumper year for biobased industry as funding pours in from the EU Bio-based Industries Initiative to help Europe compete in the global bioeconomy market
6 January 20143 January 2014 York scientists’ significant step forward in biofuels quest Scientists at the University of York have made a significant step in the search to develop effective second generation biofuels
20 December 201319 December 2013 £18M for 13 unique industry-academia Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy 13 new cross-disciplinary research communities
3 June 2013 Enzyme from wood-eating gribble could help turn waste into biofuel Researchers to design more robust enzymes for industrial applications
2 April 2013 BBSRC urges industry to participate in steering UK bioenergy & biotechnology research Networks to foster collaborative activities between academic researchers and businesses at all levels
14 March 2012 Huge Potential for UK Bio-Based Economy The UK should grasp the opportunity to use bioscience to drive growth, jobs and wellbeing
14 February 2012 New international plant science network will boost collaborative research The European Commission has provided two million Euros of funding to develop and support the coordination of the network
12 March 2010 Seafarers’ scourge provides hope for biofuel future Scientists at the BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre research on gribbles to produce biofuel
