Know-how as a location factor for the biobased chemical industry
Biobased resources and biochemical processes will change the appearance of chemical industry. Changes may occur in scale and in location. There will be a tendency towards a smaller scale. But know-how, the skill of process operators, might become an important location factor. A regional basis The logistics of biobased feedstock differs widely from that of
Focus on biobased materials in a new regional development model
The recent report ‘Strategy for a green society’ (in Dutch) of the Scientific and Technological Committee for the biobased economy (WTC) puts an emphasis on biobased materials. Biobased materials are the driving force for the biobased economy, according to the report’s subtitle. ‘The development of biobased materials fits excellently into both present technological capabilities, and
High hopes in the Dutch wind sector
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Sustainable supply chains: much progress has been made, but now governments need to act
Sustainable supply chains are of great importance for the biobased economy, in terms of environmental conditions and respect for biodiversity, and also on issues of improving working conditions and farmers’ incomes. In recent years, many labels have been created for safeguarding sustainability – but can companies and consumers rely on them? The Dutch Environmental Assessment
Joe Ross (Biorenewables Development Centre): businesses can work with us to start straight away
‘The unique feature of our centre is the cooperation with the excellent plant science and green chemistry centres in our University,’ says Joe Ross, Director of the Biorenewables Development Centre in York (UK). ‘Building upon the strong agricultural tradition in Yorkshire, and the neighbouring industrial areas of Humberside and West Yorkshire, we hope to contribute
Why Europe undermines its own policies on second-generation biofuels, whereas the US moves fast forward
Europe’s biofuel policy has been reformulated earlier this year, in order to promote the development of second-generation biofuels. But this seems to have little effect: whereas second-generation biofuels from food wastes are indeed being produced in Europe, there is just one European plant using second-generation biomass feedstock: the Beta Renewables plant in Crescentino, Northern Italy,
Wood biorefinery: major steps in Nordic countries
At EFIB, it was a surprise to me as a Dutchman, living in a country where agriculture is mainly about food crops, to learn that wood biorefinery is important in the developing biobased economy of the Nordic countries. As was shown by Johanna Buchert, Vice President of VTT, the Technical Research Centre of Finland, and
The biobased economy requires integration of all educational levels
Policy makers who aim to stimulate innovation, in the biobased economy for instance, sometimes exaggerate the importance of higher education. But getting innovations to be successful in pratice is highly dependent on skills that students learn in secondary and higher professional education. In the North of the Netherlands, they have grasped that truth. Groningen State
