Ihr Browser unterstützt leider kein JavaScript. Ohne JavaScript können diese Seiten nicht ordentlich dargestellt werden.
BIOCOM AG
BACKGROUNDS & STORIES
Innovators at #EFIB2019
Euro Biotech Guide
SPONSORED PUBLICATIONS
European Biotechnology
Nova challenges EU's "tank or table" paradigm
Oberview over study results. green: high performance/low risk, yellow: medium performance/ risk, red: green: low performance/high risk, @ nova-Institute, Cologne
by tg
A comprehensive sustainability assessment carried out by nova-Institute shows that first and second generation bioethanol is feasible for the EU's climate strategy. The study challenges the politically hyped "tank or table" paradigm that valued biofuels unsustainable due to competition to food production.
"It is unique that a mainstream thesis, which has lasted for over ten years, is scrutinised in such a comprehensive and scientific way",Dr. Christian Patermann, ex- Director for Biotechnology, Agriculture & Food at DG Research, told European Biotechnology. " I am curious, how the study will impact the future of biofuels in Europe and how those MEPs will react, who strongly resisted against 1st generation biofuels," he said.
The study's results clearly indicate that the systematic discrimination against first generation biofuels of the current Commission proposal is in no way founded on scientific evidence. It would be counterproductive to further lower the share of first generation fuels in the EU's energy mix, said nova-Institute in a press release.
Twelve main criteria were selected in order to evaluate the sustainability of first and second generation bioethanol. The criteria selection was based on the most current standards and certification systems of bio-based fuels and materials, including a wide range of environmental, social and economic aspects. A dedicated focus was put on food security due to the continued allegations towards first generation biofuels that they cause harm to food security.
The analysis shows that all of the researched bioethanol feedstocks offer significant strengths, but also weaknesses in terms of sustainability: All feedstocks realise substantial reductions of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). While second generation fuels perform better in this regard, this effect is strongly relativised, when offset against the abatement costs. Reducing GHG emissions through second generation biofuels is a rather expensive way to mitigate climate change.
When it comes to the often-criticised negative impact on food security of first generation biofuels, the evidence points into a different direction. The competition for arable land is counterbalanced by the excellent land efficiency of first generation crops (especially sugar beet) and protein-rich co-products (especially wheat and corn). In this regard, the utilisation of short rotation coppice (SRC) for biofuels poses much stronger competition for arable land, since they use up much larger acreages of arable land and provide no protein-rich co-products.
The results clearly show that the systematic discrimination against first generation biofuels of the current Commission proposal is in no way founded on scientific evidence.
On the way to a climate-friendly Europe, biofuels made from any kind of feedstock offer advantages in terms of GHG emission reductions and should indiscriminately be part of a viable transitional strategy towards low-emission mobility, as long as they adhere to sustainability criteria.
The authors recommend keeping the existing 7% for food-crop based fuels and not lowering the share of first generation fuels further in the REDII.
EU with poor success in fighting superbugs
Although some progress has been made through EU action, there is little evidence so far to suggest that the health burden of antimicrobial resistance...
BIOncoTech Therapeutics and MSD combine cancer drugs
The clinical collaboration aims at providing clincial Phase II evidence that Bioncotech Therapeutics' RNA–based cancer lead BO-112 can improve the...
Alderaan Biotechnology raise €18.5m in Series A financing
The Paris-based company develops therapeutic antibodies that might deplete regulatory T (Treg) cells and activate Natural Killer (NK) cells of the...
New stromal target overcomes cancer resistance
According to Eugene Park at University of Cambridge and colleagues, the treatments, which undercut pathways in the tumour microenvironment that...
Truffle's BioMedTech fund filled with €250m
The new BioMedTech fund will create and fund a dozen companies, mainly in France, developing medical devices and medications aiming to revolutionise...
Researchers target ferroptosis resistance of cancer cells
In Nature, Sebastian Doll from Marcus Conrad's group at Helmholtz Center Munich and the group of José Pedro Friedmann Angel at University Würzburg,...
North Sea Therapeutics raises US$40m in Series B
Besides the completion of the ongoing Phase 2b ICONA study on icosabutate in safety and efficacy in NASH (Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis), North Sea...
Your e-mail-address is already registered.
Your e-mail address will be used solely for the purposes of sending out our newsletter. You will be able to unsubscribe at any time and thereby revoke your consent to receive the newsletter. A transfer of the data to third parties will not occur. For further information, please refer to our privacy policy.
Iberian biotech newcomer
The geographical proximity of Spain's Northwestern region Galicia to Northern Portugal is a key factor for the birth of the new bioregion...
SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE NEWSLETTER	SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MAGAZINE
Free Newsletter! Always up to date! All news at one glance! All important events! Your e-mail-address is already registered.
© BIOCOM AG 2000 - 2019