Microbes Are Evolving to Eat Plastic Pollution, Study Shows

Good News Notes: “Millions of years ago, evolution turned tiny microbes into multicellular plants, animals, and humans. Now, evolution is turning them into something equally remarkable: environmentalists. So finds a new study from researchers at Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology.1 Published this month in the scientific journal mBIO, it found plastic waste is giving rise to a growing…

NovoNutrients Raises US$9 Million for Converting CO2 Emissions Into Vegan Protein Ingredients

Good News Notes: “Alternative proteins company NovoNutrients has secured a total of US$9 million to finish its industrial pilot project. The project is dedicated to capturing carbon emissions to develop high-quality animal-free proteins using naturally occurring microbes and industrial biotech. Strong global backing California-based NovoNutrients received US$4.7 funding from Hong Kong-based global venture firm, Happiness…

€1 Million Prize for Plastics-to-Protein Research Awarded to Steve Techtmann, Ting Lu

Good News Notes: “Plastic waste and access to nutritious food top the list of humanity’s challenges. Yet humans are nothing if not innovative, especially in the face of adversity. Michigan Technological University’s Steve Techtmann, associate professor of biological sciences, aims to convert plastic waste and inedible biomass into edible protein — a biological sleight of hand…

This NASA-inspired technology converts carbon dioxide into food.

Good News Notes: “NASA asked the same question in the 1960s. And the challenge of feeding a year-long space mission led to a remarkable discovery: when astronauts exhale, the carbon dioxide in their breath can be captured by a special class of microbes – and potentially turned into nutrients. Now an American company has taken…

Government to Invest in Bioplastic Technology R&D

Good News Notes: “The South Korean government is planning to invest three billion won for three years to come in order to help small and venture firms develop and commercialize technology related to bioplastics. These days, white biotechnology is emerging as a solution to plastic wastes and carbon emissions. The technology is to replace existing…