Category: <span>Working Groups</span>

EBIC webinar: Enzyme Engineering for PFAS Remediation – don’t forget

Date: 2 June 2026, 12-13:00 The Environmental Biotechnology Innovation Centre (EBIC) is delighted to invite you to an interactive live webinar on Enzyme Engineering for PFAS Remediation  This is the third of four webinars in EBIC’s current Engineering Biology in Action series. Hear from leading experts including Dr Tao Lyu …

Machine learning for modelling environmental biotechnologies – and WG report

Results from a webinar organised by EBNet’s working group on AI & ML in the Bioeconomy have formed the basis for a recent Perspectives paper in Resources, Conservation and Recycling. The paper identifies the power of biotechnologies such as fermentation, anaerobic digestion and bioelectrochemical systems  –  all topics of sister …

UK Fertilising Product Regulations: consultation on regulatory reform  

The UK Government, including Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland branches, is running a public consultation and call for evidence on the impact of proposed modifications to existing legislation in the UK Fertilising Product Regulations (UK FPR). The online consultation covers rules on manufacturing and marketing of fertilisers, but does not …

Food waste sorting technologies – and updated AF WG report

A new publication from IEA Bioenergy’s Task 36 Material and Energy Valorisation of Waste in a Circular Economy looks at advanced sorting technologies for food wastes. The report provides an overview of technologies currently available on the market, accompanied by a brief case study on food waste in Germany. It …

Future plans for the PFAS WG – and a new review paper

A recent review paper seeks to consolidate and summarise current knowledge on the sources and distribution of PFAS, their environmental impacts, and the challenges associated with remediation. The authors, who include members of the PFAS WG, emphasize that detection and characterisation remains problematic. Regulatory control is complicated by the diversity …

Governing Synthetic Biology – a Social Sciences primer (…plus an updated WG Report)

EBNet members from a range of backgrounds whose work is impacted by synthetic or engineering biology may be interested in a new publication on Governing Synthetic Biology, in the Oxford Biology Primers series. This book is intended as an introductory text providing readers from different disciplines with an overview of …

Do we need a war to make the case for biomethane?

While Governments struggle to respond to short-term price swings and more lasting uncertainties on global energy supplies, the renewable energy sector is pressing the case for diversification and reduced reliance on fossil fuel resources. The UK’s Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) has issued a special Newsletter for members, with …

ESWS WG – Microfluidics Conference 2026, a new paper and updated WG report

Members of EBNet’s Environmental Sensors and Wastewater Surveillance (ESWS) WG have recently published an article on a paper-microfluidic platform for infection monitoring and immunity evaluation of viral RNA and antibodies. The paper presents a system that integrates a streamlined processing protocol with a paper-based LAMP assay for viral RNA detection, …

New bioinformatics training opportunities  – and updated WG report

Don’t miss two outstanding new training opportunities: Introduction to Quarto, 22 April 2026, Online workshop, ÂŁ75/ÂŁ50  –  FLYER here Metatranscriptomics, 11-22 May 2026, Online workshop, Free  –  FLYER here These workshops are organised by the UKRI Digital Research Skills Catalyst (DRSC), an initiative to promote materials and activities by Cloud-SPAN …

Membrane fouling control review – and an updated report from the AG WG

A recent review paper on methods of membrane fouling control and cleaning provides an excellent example of the need to consider physical and chemical technologies in conjunction with microbial treatment systems. Environmental biotechnologies not only require engineered systems to enable and maintain the microbially-mediated processes that drive them; these elements …

BBNet Report on the State of UK Biorefining now available

The Biomass Biorefinery Network (BBNet) has launched its report on The State of UK Biorefining: Progress, Performance and Pathways for Growth. The report assesses the evolution, current status and future prospects of the UK biorefining sector. It draws on a decade of published literature (2014–2024), stakeholder engagement conducted in 2025, …