Category: <span>News</span>

IConBM26 – call for abstracts

Abstract deadline:  31 Oct 2025 Conference: 24-27 May 2026 Bologna, Italy The International Conference on Biomass (ICONBM2026) is calling for abstracts for its next session. The conference is organised by the Italian Association of Chemical Engineering (AIDIC), and selected papers are published in the journal Chemical Engineering Transactions.  Topics relevant …

PFAS: EBNet update and other statements – inviting your input

Earlier this year EBNet’s PFAS WG presented a Position Statement identifying knowledge gaps and the need for development of cost-effective approaches able to degrade PFAS. Since then the WG has: run a successful international workshop co-sponsored by EBNet and the Environmental Biotechnology Innovation Centre (EBIC) – see video playlist presented …

Organic Waste Feedstocks for Bioenergy and Biorefinery production

Two recent reports by IEA Bioenergy’s Task 43 add to the literature on assessing and tracking the availability of biomass feedstocks for production of bioenergy, biofuels and bioproducts. The Review of feedstock supply for bioenergy in selected IEA Bioenergy member countries aims to define and inform a structured framework for …

BBIA/GCSB webinar: Bioplastics from Biomass – 8 Sept 2025

Date: Mon 8 Sept 2025 12-13:00 UK Venue: Online The Bio-based and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA) and the Global Center for Sustainable Bioproducts (GCSB) are hosting a webinar on Bioplastics from Biomass: Innovative Pathways for Sustainable Conversion.  Topics include: Global Center for Sustainable Bioproduct overview Biocomposites overview: Environmental drivers and policy incentives Integrated …

CIWM Webinar: Closing the Loop on Food Waste – 3 Sept

Date: Wed 3 Sept 2025 12:30 – 13:30 UK Venue: Online The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) is hosting the next in its ‘Hard to manage materials’ Technical webinar series. The panel will consider food waste and organics, how to manage contamination and decarbonise bioprocessing. With net-zero targets and decarbonisation goals driving …

Efficient recovery of CO2 using microbubbles – seeking survey responses

A team from the University of Sheffield is seeking feedback and information from the Anaerobic Digestion sector on three potential applications for microbubbles in recovery of CO2. The background to the survey can be found at Efficient carbon dioxide recovery using microbubbles | Commercialisation | The University of Sheffield The team …

Amazing Science webinar: Methanotrophs to the Rescue?

Date: Wed 17 Sept 2025, 14-15:00 UK The Carbon Technology Research Foundation (CTRF) is hosting an online session Nature to the Rescue: Amazing Science Supercharging the Planet – Unlocking Methane Removal.  The event is one in a series of high-level briefings designed for funders, policymakers, and research leaders working at …

BiofuelAi shortlisted for £1 million Manchester Prize

BiofuelAi is a startup from the University of Surrey, and is one of ten finalists that have been shortlisted for the £1 million Manchester Prize. The Prize, funded by the Department for Science and Technology (DSIT), aims to reward UK-led artificial intelligence innovations such as those within the fields of …

Bird Life

Today is a public holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, so a quirky item that may interest bird lovers seems suitable… Brett Westwood is a radio presenter and author specialising in natural history, especially birds.  Angela Bywater, EBNet’s former Network Co-Manager who now manages the UK side of the …

Global Center for Sustainable Bioproducts – UK/Canada Visit

The Global Center for Sustainable Bioproducts (GCSB) aims to develop environmentally and economically sustainable bio-derived composites and plastics, utilising waste biomass to replace petroleum and its derivatives. It started early this year, and is one of six worldwide Global Bioeconomy Centers which will run for 5 years with funding from …

Exploring environmental biotechnology as a field – UK AsSIT presentation

A new video presents the results of a small study carried out by EBNet’s Environmental Biotechnology and Social Sciences WG (EBSS), led by Prof Adrian Ely of the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex. The work aimed to explore the past, present and future of environmental …

EA Statement and CIWEM Podcast on Nature-based solutions

The Environment Agency’s new Position Paper on Nature-Based Solutions is the starting point for an episode in the Planet Possible podcast series, featuring Helen Wakeham, the EA’s Director of Water, and Mark Lloyd, CEO of the Rivers Trust.  A wide-ranging discussion includes the challenges presented by lack of performance data, …