Environmental Biotechnology Network

A word to our funders – make sure your views are known

EBNet’s Director Prof Sonia Heaven will give a short talk on our Network to representatives of BBSRC in Southampton on 3 June 2026. This is an opportunity to share your thoughts on key issues for Environmental Biotechnology, and/or ideas for this and other UKRI-funded Networks. We plan to include preliminary …

Dr Clare Lukehurst – a Champion of Anaerobic Digestion

Dr Clare Lukehurst has recently been recognised by an entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Although the text is behind a paywall, it’s very gratifying to see her remarkable life and contributions acknowledged in this way. Dr Lukehurst acted for many years as the UK representative for IEA …

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 …

BB-REG-NET report on biodegradability in LCA

BB-REG-NET has released its latest report on integrating biodegradability into life cycle assessment (LCA). The new report notes that LCA often under-emphasises biodegradation and end-of-life impacts, meaning that potential benefits may be overlooked in any comparison between bio-based products and conventional materials. While noting that test conditions are not fully …

Coccus Pocus 2025: results of the microbiology-inspired ‘Scary story’ competition

Last Autumn saw Round 7 of Coccus Pocus, the annual scary story competition for Halloween. The 2025 competition was supported by the Microbiology Society as part of its Knocking Out AMR campaign: the competition organiser Dr Georgios Efthimiou is himself a Microbiology Society Champion. Entrants are asked to write a …

sLoLa Outlines 2026-27

Closing date: 25 June 2026 The strategic Longer and Larger (sLoLa) funding aims to support large team-based curiosity-driven bioscience discovery research projects. Projects are expected to generate new fundamental biological knowledge of broad and long-term significance, changing how we think about bioscience within and likely transcending their immediate fields. They …

Environmental evidence synthesis: NERC/ESRC Doctoral Focal Awards

Notification of intent: 27 May 2026 Closing date: 15 July 2026 These Doctoral Focal Awards are intended to equip the next generation of researchers with a robust foundation in advanced evidence synthesis methodologies, providing them with the skills to critically appraise, synthesise and communicate diverse sources of information to inform …

UKRI Translation: Proof of Concept Call May 2026

Closing date: 13 May 2026 This UKRI Proof of Concept funding call aims to accelerate the development of new or improved technologies, products, processes or services arising from research activities at eligible UK research organisations. Outcomes may include establishing university spinouts or social ventures, as well as developing other applicable …

IBioIC Feasibility Funding call – EOI deadline 11 May 2026

Deadline: 11 May 2026 for Expressions of Interest The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) Feasibility Call invites industry-led applications for research projects in collaboration with academia, from businesses with a foothold in Scotland or a plan to deliver inward investment to stimulate Scotland’s economy. Funding available is between £20k-£40k at …

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 …