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Adding bacteria to the roots of poplar trees could help clean contaminated soil. Image credit: Flickr/ Ekaterina Sotova
Environment  |  Bioeconomy
Bacteria turn trees into pollution-eating machines

Hacking trees by adding bacteria to their roots could help scrub contaminated soil clean of chemicals and metals from industrial spillages and ...

Farmers could soon be using nematodes on a large scale to fight pests in their maize fields. Image credit E-nema GmbH, Germany
Agriculture  |  Bioeconomy  |  Open Innovation
Natural enemies enlisted as troops in war on pests

From fungal spore spray to insect egg dispensers, unleashing an army of living enemies on crops to keep pests and diseases in check may sound like the ...

Low oil prices mean that it’s cheaper to use virgin plastic instead of recycled to create new products. Image credit: Pixabay/ Hans
Environment  |  Bioeconomy
Plastic-eating bacteria offer recipe against recycling slowdown

Recycling innovations such as plastic-eating microbes could sweeten the fortunes of the global plastic recycling industry which has suffered from cut ...

Hemp can be used to create furniture, roof tiles and even sustainable concrete. Image credit: Pixabay/ rexmedlen
Environment  |  Bioeconomy
High hopes for houses made from hemp

A cutting-edge refinery is processing specially bred hemp and researching innovative new biomaterials that could help build future eco-friendly homes.

New smartphones on the market encourage old ones to be thrown out, and waste companies are struggling with recycling. Image credit: Flickr/ Fairphone
Environment  |  Energy  |  Bioeconomy
Tech trends undermine move to zero-waste economy

Each year a new wave of computers, smartphones and accessories swarm the market with smaller components made from increasingly complex materials. While this technological evolution may be exciting for consumers, the trend towards obsolescence is impeding our progress towards a zero-waste society, according to researchers working in the area.

Researchers are making bio jet fuel from the seeds of the Solaris tobacco plant. Image courtesy of Project Solaris
Agriculture  |  Energy  |  Bioeconomy  |  Open Innovation
Tobacco-powered aeroplane to be tested ‘within months’

Researchers are getting ready to test a tobacco-powered aeroplane thanks to a new bio jet fuel made from the seeds of nicotine-free plants, and the result could be a 75 % reduction in carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels.

AT~SEA project researchers are aiming to grow seaweed in high yields using underwater textiles. © stevehullphotography
Industry  |  Energy  |  Bioeconomy
A new dimension of seaweed farming

Researchers are developing textiles that could be used for large-scale seaweed farms off Europe’s coast.

Chicken raised on a diet of insects may be in supermarkets sooner than we think. ©Shutterstock / zhangyang
Bioeconomy  |  Agriculture  |  Environment
Burgers made from bug-fed chicken coming to a supermarket near you

Researchers are preparing to conduct field trials of house fly larvae as a protein-rich supplement to animal feed made of cereals and corn.

Chicken raised on a diet of insects may be in supermarkets sooner than we think. ©Shutterstock / zhangyang
Bioeconomy  |  Agriculture  |  Environment
Bug-based chicken burgers in supermarkets soon

Researchers are preparing to conduct field trials of house fly larvae as an alternative to animal feed made of cereals and corn, and it means bug-based burgers, bacon and chicken breast could be on supermarket shelves soon.

Tomato lacquer is being used to coat cans of food. © Shutterstock/denis09
Health  |  Bioeconomy
Food packaging made from tomatoes

Researchers are using a lacquer made from processed tomatoes to coat cans of food as part of a drive to replace food packaging with healthier, natural alternatives.

Professor Mike Jetten is hunting for bacteria that consume methane below the waterline.
Environment  |  Bioeconomy  |  Frontier research
Methane-munching bacteria that can help save the environment

Professor Mike Jetten of Radboud University believes he can help tackle global warming by uncovering bacteria that consume methane before it reaches the environment.

Collection of seaweed along the west coast of Ireland (Co. Donegal). ©AlgAran
Health  |  Agriculture  |  Bioeconomy
Health supplements from antioxidant-rich seaweed

Seaweed could become an important source of disease-fighting antioxidants, if EU scientists succeed in proving its benefits.

Plants on a conveyor belt in the plant laboratory near Dijon, France. © ABSTRESS
Bioeconomy  |  Agriculture  |  Environment
Breeding tough new vegetables to resist drought

European scientists are applying hi-tech breeding to develop vegetables that can grow through blight and drought – a GMO-free way to help Europe cut down on animal feed imports and help the environment.

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