29 September 20209 September 2021 Trump administration eyes at least $300 million aid to refiners denied biofuel waivers: sources The aid would help compensate refiners that have been caught short by the ruling
15 September 20209 September 2021 EC launches public consultation on potential revision of REDII The REDII is the EU’s main renewable energy policy legislation
10 September 20209 September 2021 New Nitrogen Assembly Carbon catalyst has potential to transform chemical manufacturing he scientists performed experiments with a type of heterogeneous catalyst in which the design and placement of nitrogen on the carbon surface greatly influenced the catalytic activity of the material
27 August 202024 August 2020 Biogenic Emissions: Credit Where It’s Due An improved understanding of biogenic emissions from agricultural crops could change the economics of biobased product manufacturing and biofuel production
7 August 20203 August 2020 Report: EU wood pellet demand expected to increase in 2020 According to the report, the EU currently produces approximately 30 percent of world pellet production, but accounts for 50 percent of global consumption
5 August 20201 August 2020 Dutch agency advises the Netherlands to phase out bioenergy In its new GAIN report, SER recommends that biomass to be used for the highest value applications possible and comply with clear sustainability requirements
27 July 202023 July 2020 Cortec’s BioPad earns USDA certification Company gained the unique USDA Certified Biobased Product label
20 July 20209 July 2020 U of I-Led Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (CAFE) Secures $10M USDA Grant to Build Sustainability and Prosperity for Dairy Industry Tge project will create useful bioproducts from dairy manure that can be transported and used in more distant areas for crop production or for value-added products
4 June 202029 May 2020 USDA expands rule on biorefinery loan program New rule allows applications to develop renewable chemical and biobased products without having to produce some amount of advanced biofuel
29 May 202026 May 2020 BD Zones and BDO Zones: Weaponizing Biomass to support a Bio-Fueled Economic Recovery BD and BDO Zones are shovel-ready, actionable initiatives that unlock billions of dollars of institutional investment into communities with a surplus of biomass, and where employment and bioeconomy development can be closely linked
11 March 20206 March 2020 Hemp as an Energy Crop: Drying Considerations Hemp straw bone dry energy density (higher heating value) is testing at 7,912 Btu per pound (wood species average 8,000 Btu) for an end-of-growing-season harvest
USDA Announces Intent to Make Grants Available Under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program The Department plans to publish application deadlines and other program information in the Federal Register this spring
5 March 20202 March 2020 USDA Rural Development, BioPreferred Program and more The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA’s Bioproducts to Market Efforts
4 March 20202 March 2020 USDA Rural Development, BioPreferred Program and more: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA’s Bioproducts to Market Efforts Check out William Orts, Research Leader of Bioproducts at USDA, presentation from ABLC NEXT in San Francisco
28 February 202027 February 2020 Trump’s agriculture department announces 30% biofuel goal for 2050 The biofuel goal is part of a new department-wide sustainability initiative aiming to boost farm production by 40%
26 February 202022 February 2020 Secretary Perdue Announces New Innovation Initiative for USDA The Agriculture Innovation Agenda is a Solution for Farmers, Consumers, and the Environment
18 February 202013 February 2020 7 New Changes in USDA Biorefinery Funding Opportunities – Now is the Time to Take Advantage Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies
11 February 20209 February 2020 USDA: US wood pellet exports reach 6.89 million tons in 2019 The U.S. exported wood pellets to more than a dozen countries in December
7 January 20204 January 2020 Alberta has its economic answer in front of them. Will they see the forest for the trees? By Jeff Passmore, Founder and Chair of Scaling Up Special to The Digest
10 December 20195 December 2019 How Policy Can Boost the Market Roll-Out of Renewable Fuels Innovation project ADVANCEFUEL aims to reaching the target of 3.5% for advanced renewable fuels mentioned in the REDII
6 November 201931 October 2019 Cotton seed for dinner? That could become a reality Food and Drug Administration approved modified cotton for human consumption in late September - a historic decision that could change the industry and help feed the world
Funding opportunity for US biorefineries USDA to fund with project costs up to $250 million the development, construction and retrofitting of Commercial-Scale Biorefineries using Eligible Technology
4 November 20193 November 2019 Biosynthetic® Technologies Commercializes Its First in Class High-Performing Biobased Synthetic Motor Oil Using High-Oleic Soybean Oil from Soybeans Grown by U.S. Farmers. The biobased alternative is well suited for high-temperature automotive and industrial applications
25 September 201920 September 2019 Ultrafabrics Launches First Bio-Based Collection of Performance Fabrics Company incorporated renewable plant-based materials into the multiple layers of the unique product construction
26 July 201924 July 2019 New University and Government Reports Set the Record Straight on Ethanol’s GHG Benefits These studies add to a large body of existing literature that debunks falsities spread by well-funded opponents about the role ethanol plays in protecting the environment
24 July 201922 July 2019 Now Available: 2018 Report – Economic Impact of U.S. Biobased Products Industry Biobased productscontributed $459 billion to the U.S. economy in 2016, a 17% increase from 2014
9 April 20197 April 2019 USDA Study Shows Significant Greenhouse Gas Benefits of Ethanol Compared with Gasoline A new study released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) finds greenhouse gas emissions from corn-based ethanol are about 39 percent lower than gasoline
27 March 201922 March 2019 US Federal Agencies Release Framework for Advancing the Bioeconomy New Framework to increase government accountability and accelerate innovative and sustainable technologies
20 March 201915 March 2019 Lygos Awarded Three Innovation Research Grants to Advance Applications for its Portfolio of Sustainable Specialty Biochemicals Latest funding from DOE, USDA and NSF further validates company’s commitment to replacing toxic petrochemicals, reclaiming local manufacturing and reviving industrial chemical innovation
13 March 20197 March 2019 Inolex Establishes Largest Ingredient Portfolio of USDA Certified Biobased Products Available in Personal Care More than half of the products contain 100% certified biobased content and 90% contain 80–100% certified biobased content
8 February 20195 February 2019 CLT and Engineered Wood Products Poised for Growth in 2019 Wood-building construction directly supports the forest value chain that supports the rural American economy
1 February 201929 January 2019 Quest fulfilled? Holy Grail found? 40% crop yield increase really possible? University of Illinois and USDA researchers found transgenic tobacco plants were ∼40% more productive than wild-type tobacco plants
15 November 201812 November 2018 Updates to the USDA BioPreferred Program’s Guidelines The finalized and proposed changes, as well as their expected impacts on Program participants, are discussed on the BioPreferred website
12 November 20187 November 2018 Economic comparative advantage of willow biomass in the Northeast USA Willow is grown commercially on about 500 hectares in the Northeast, predominantly for biopower but also for some other markets
8 November 20185 November 2018 Study Shows Value Of Natural-Looking Packaging For Organic, Premium Brands Sonoco's EcoTect-packaged products captured consumers’ visual attention faster, longer and more frequently than the control products
1 November 201820 November 2019 USDA adds 30 Product Categories to BioPreferred Program Department is also amending four existing categories – general purpose de-icers, firearm lubricants, laundry products and water-clarifying agents
18 October 201815 October 2018 Global vegetable oil production set to reach new peak According to USDA forecast, 2018/19 world vegetable oil production will probably rise more than 3 per cent from the previous year
22 August 201817 August 2018 The Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3) and InnoCentive Announce Award Recipients in the Challenge for Novel Green Preservatives Seven finalists have received portions of the prize pool of $175,000
16 August 201812 August 2018 USDA solicits applications for loan guarantee program The program provides loan guarantees to fund the development, construction, and retrofitting of commercial-scale biorefineries using eligible technology
31 July 20189 September 2021 Reps. Peters, Young Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Incentivize Carbon Capture Technology Efforts of Representatives Young and Peters to secure passage of this important legislation as part of the broader 2018 Farm Bill
24 July 201819 July 2018 My Pledge at World Congress: BIO Will Lead on Gene Editing The cost of renewable feedstocks is coming down while investments in production capacity are going up
19 July 201817 July 2018 How to Win the Public Policy Debate, and the Annual Government Agency Funding Battles for the Bioeconomy Evans Craig from Lee Enterprises provides tips on how every person can become an effective advocate for the bioeconomy at the local, state, and federal public policy levels
20 June 201818 June 2018 Kreussler Inc. Earns USDA Certified Biobased Product Label Kreussler Inc.'s SOLVONK4 dry cleaning solvent is 88% biobased and now a USDA Certified BioPreferred product
18 June 20189 September 2021 Carbon utilization bill could create value for CO2 emissions The Carbon Utilization Act, would allow new carbon utilization technologies, such as carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) and biogas production
9 May 20183 May 2018 USDA Biobased Economy Report Indicates Potential for Rural Prosperity with Renewable Chemicals The report measures substantial economic growth, job creation, and household income for the agricultural sector from biofuel and bioenergy production
7 May 20184 May 2018 Vegatronic 6000 Sanitary Design: USDA-compliant bag maker Ilapak offers bagging equipment that can run new compostable film
30 April 201826 April 2018 BIO Applauds Farm Bill Amendments Addressing Ag Biotech The House Agriculture Committee approved on Wednesday, April 18, amendments to the panel’s Farm Bill addressing some key BIO policy priorities
27 April 201825 April 2018 Bio-based FireRein signs deal to develop applications for US Military Collaboration will endeavor to secure a military specification (MIL-SPEC) for Eco-Gel
25 April 201819 April 2018 Gene Editing Is A Continuum of Plant Breeding Even with the FDA and the WHO determining that GMOs are safe, activists worked hard to sow fear and skepticism about the technology in the public