Saxon researchers are developing biotechnological cell factories that operate without arable land or fossil fuels. Using microalgae, Chemnitz University of Technology, Leipzig University, and Fraunhofer FEP are producing the basic chemical glycolate from CO₂ and sunlight—a key building block for medicines, preservatives, and polymers.

The search for sustainable alternatives to energy production from agricultural crops is a key concern in the context of the European climate goals of becoming climate-neutral by 2050. In Germany, maize has so far dominated as an energy crop, but its cultivation poses ecological challenges: soil erosion, nutrient leaching, and, in particular, groundwater contamination with nitrates are known problems. Therefore, research must identify suitable alternative crops that minimize the ecological problems while achieving the same or similar biomass production and energy generation. A comparative study by the University of Bayreuth shows that perennial silphium is a more sustainable alternative to the energy crop silage maize .

Given the planned phase-out of lignite mining by 2030, the Rhineland region is facing significant structural change: around 15,000 jobs are expected to be lost. A team led by Prof. Tessa Flatten and Prof. Steffen Strese from the Institute for Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE) in the Faculty of Business and Economics at TU Dortmund University has therefore been investigating regional start-ups in the bioeconomy sector and their role in structural change since 2022. As part of the federally funded research project, the TU scientists have now published the third "Bioeconomy Start-up Pulse," which, for the first time, provides a chronological overview of the sector's activities, challenges, and success factors.

The Federal Cabinet adopted the new High-Tech Agenda on July 31. With this, the Federal Government is realigning its research, technology, and innovation policy to make Germany ready for action and competitive in the future. Biotechnology, as a key technology of the bioeconomy, plays a central role in this. Bioökonomie.de summarizes the most important points.

Researchers at the University of Stuttgart have used microbial processes to produce environmentally friendly bioconcrete from urine as part of a "wastewater-bioconcrete-fertilizer" value chain. Following the project's extension by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts, product optimization and practical testing are now underway.

A sustainable shrimp farm is being established at the Department of Animal Ecology at Justus Liebig University in Giessen. The feed for the crustaceans contains insect larvae, which are being produced from biogenic side streams in collaboration with Fraunhofer IME. Visit this innovative pilot plant for sustainable inland shrimp production on August 23rd from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

After a smooth start to the commissioning phase of the European Space Agency's (ESA) BIOMASS Earth observation satellite, the BIOMASS team at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has now produced the first radar image—a milestone, as it is the first focused P-band SAR image ever acquired from space. The images and results were obtained as part of the ESA-funded "ESA BIOMASS In-Orbit Commissioning" program.

On May 7, 2025, around 20 interested people visited the biorefinery of Biowert Industrie GmbH in Brensbach. During an exciting tour, the participants gained exclusive insights into the production of grass fiber compounds – innovative materials derived from regional meadow grass. The interplay of state-of-the-art technology and practical sustainability impressed the visitors. In an open discussion with coffee and light refreshments, the participants discussed possible applications of bio-based plastics. Topics such as resource conservation, CO₂ reduction, and the use of renewable raw materials were the focus. As a small thank you, all participants received a goodie bag with sample products – sustainability you can touch!