Issue 11 - Winter 2004

Editorial

BioMatNet Project Comes to an End

This is the last Newsletter that will be produced by the BioMatNet project. As previously indicated the original two year project was granted an extension to the end of December 2004. It was hoped that this would allow most QLK5.2 projects to be followed to their conclusion. Several projects have finished and produced their final reports which have been added to the website since the last newsletter, as have further progress reports from projects that continue. Although the final picture is not complete, the BioMatNet site reflects the information available at this time.

Currently, EU funding in this area is relatively modest. However, interest throughout Member States and internationally remains high. This is reflected in the ever growing number of meetings, publications, newsletters, studies and other initiatives relating to non-food, which in turn has resulted in a number of new ITEMs, based on material received from such national and international activities.

Three clear trends are apparent. The first is the continuing interest shown by National Governments, International Organisations, Learned Societies, Trade Organisations, Associations and similar bodies, resulting in numerous studies, strategy papers and promotional leaflets. The second is the focus on liquid biofuels for transport, where considerable investment is required if the Biofuels Directive is to be implemented. The third is the widespread promotion of industrial (white) biotechnology as a route to chemicals and polymers, including biodegradable polymers.

It is hoped that this considerable 'information' barrage will be recognised by those planning FP7 and will be reflected in the resulting Programme Priorities.

Continuing research, supported by the EU, is clearly needed in this area. It is equally clear that in spite of the considerable interest in sustainable bioproducts, commecial production is in some cases limited by a number of factors that include price, performance and availability in comparison with similar products based on petrochemical feedstocks. Price of raw materials is affected by the Common Agricultural Policy, while product prices may be adjusted by support mechanisms aimed at 'kick-starting' production where this is encouraged or required by legislation. This is a complex area covered by many aspects of existing and proposed EU legislation. In response to a request from the Non-Food Unit at the Commission, we have brought this material together in a new legislation section on the website.

Achievements of the BioMatNet Project

This project was designed to run for two years, but was extended by 18 months to facilitate the addition of further information from FP5, draw attention to what proved to be rather limited opportiunities for funding in FP6 and help prepare for FP7. The main activities have been the continued addition of Items to the website, the production of a number of different CD-ROMs, the production of 11 issues of the electronic newsletter and various contributions to meetings, exhibitions and publications.

During the project more than 500 new ITEMs have been added to the website (reaching a final total of over 1800), with an equal number of additions or modification to existing ITEMs, such that BioMatNet remains one of the main sources of information covering research and development of Renewable Bioproducts in Europe.

Demand for the BioMatNet CD-ROMs has blossomed; over 5000 copies of CD4, CD5 and the 'AIR report' produced during the course of the project were snapped up with enthusiasm, so to meet this continuing demand 3000 copies of CD6 were produced. In addition, at the request of the Commission 3000 copies of a further CD-ROM containing 'Non-Food Reports' was also produced.

During this project the opportunity to register an interest in the EU Non-Food activities, and hence receive relevant emails continued. However, the decrease in funding opportunities seen in FP6 has been reflected in a gradual decline in the total number of individuals registering with BioMatNet. During the course of the three non-food information dissemination projects funded by the EC over 11,000 individuals registered. New registrants continued to be added on a weekly basis. However, as projects funded under FAIR and QLK5 came to an end, participants have had to look for new opportunities and either asked to be removed, or did not give new contact details. As a result at the end of the BioMatNet project just under 6,000 registrants will receive this final newsletter.

In spite of the decreased funding opportunities in FP6, interest in and use of the BioMatNet website continued to increase during the first couple of years and then steadied off. However, the average number of users still remained over 11,000 a week (see Figure 1 below), indicating the continued value of the site and the growing interest in sustainable systems, renewable bioproducts, biofuels and other topics covered on the site both in Europe and beyond.

This interest is also reflected in the significant number of emails received from individuals and organisations on a regular basis. These range from direct queries about the projects, through to requests for materials or seeds for novel crops and help with research methods or techniques, as well as questions concerning the commercial availability of the types of products listed. We have done our best to answer these or pass the request on to a project co-ordinator (or where the project has ended and contacts are lost, draw attention to the relevant website). The greatest difficulty has been in providing guidence as to the source of commercial products. In part this is due to the fact that the project basically deals with research and development, but also reflects the time taken for such products to reach the market place.

Figure 1: Growth in BioMatNet website use since the start of the project.

Continuation of website and database

For the time being we will keep the BioMatNet website live on the internet, although the extent to which further modifications or additions can be made will be very limited.

The addition of material to the underlying database and the registration of those interested in receiving information will be suspended.

This project was the third in a series, with the common objective of disseminating the results from sucessive RTD Framework Programmes. During the extension period possibilities for further funding of the website were investigated, but until recently no clear option had been identified. As indicated in previous newsletters, the non-food use of agricultural and forest products did not attract significant funding in FP6, making it more difficult to continue. However, the recent call in the area of 'Research for Policy Support' has clearly identified the wish for continued dissemination of such information, contributing to the link between FP6 and FP7 activities as well as helping to identify possible non-food topics for support in FP7. We expect to respond to this call, which should in time enable the continued dissemination of the results of EU-funded non-food research through a specific portal on the Internet.

Existing BioMatNet registrants will be kept informed of any developments in the continued provision of this information network. In the meantime, however, we shall still be in contact with many of you through the second phase of the ManagEnergy Initiative, as a new three year contract has recently been signed.

BioMatNet CD-ROMs and Reports

During the final period of this activity we have brought together the information provided by registrants, specifically those providing details of their websites. As a result we have been able to compile an up-to-date listing of organisations involved in European Non-Food activities in CD-ROM form. This will be made available through CPL Press.

Below we present a summary of the final Items added to the site and also draw attention to an opportunity for suitably qualified individuals from 'East Europe' to participate in research activities in Belgium. These can be selected through the following links

Organisations

Belgium Funding

Publications

Projects

With best wishes for your continuing sucess in the areas of renewable bioproducts.

Jim Coombs & Katy Hall

This activity was funded from June 2001 - December 2004 through FP5 under Area 2 (Non-Food) of Key Action 5 (Sustainable Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) within the Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources Programme. Supported by EC Contract QLK5-2000-30100. The scientific aspects were co-ordinated by Dr James Coombs; maintenance of the BioMatNet website, database and other computing and publishing activities are managed by Mrs Katy Hall, both of CPL Press (CPL Scientific Publishing Services Limited).

Organisations

Details of some key organisations involved in activities relating to the Non-Food use of crops and forest products that have been added to the site since the last newsletter are listed below. As previously these are generally linked to various publications or projects, or come from information supplied by registrants. In the last newsletter we indicated the intention to extend this section, including more information about organisations that have registered an interest in this area and hoped to increase the number of links to relevant websites. However, the response to our invitation for contact details was not very great. So as an alternative strategy we have developed this information in CD-ROM format, based on information submittted by registrants, as well as that derived from the numerous RTD Projects listed on the BioMatNet site. As a result we have been able to compile an up-to-date listing of organisations involved in European Non-Food activities in CD-ROM form (as indicated in the section above).

Organisations added recently include the following:

EURAGRI The European Agricultural Research Iniative (EURAGRI) is the international (EU) platform for the political and executive organisations in the fields of Food and Agricultural Policy and Research. It provides a forum for informal exchange on opinions and views on developments in science, society and industry, especially in so far as those can have implications on the programming and execution and planning of food and agricultural research. www.euragri.org

RAPRA Rapra Technology is Europe's leading independent plastics and rubber consultancy. It was formerly the Rubber and Plastics Research Association (RAPRA). Rapra provides specialist plastics and rubber technical, information and commercial services for the polymer industry and end-user industries including the automotive, construction, electrical, medical, offshore, packaging and polyurethane sectors. www.rapra.net

DSM is active worldwide in life science and nutritional products, performance materials and industrial chemicals. The Life Science Products cluster's activities are mainly targeted at the pharmaceutical, food and agrochemical industries. Through the combination of biotechnology (including fermentation and biocatalysis) and organic chemistry, DSM can offer its customers the widest possible range of technologies and support them with innovations.www.dsm.com. They have recently produced a short brochure covering industrrial biotechnology (see below).

CIRIA The Construction Industry Research and Information Association is an independent association covering construction research and innovation in the UK. It has some 700 separate organisations subscribing to one or more categories of membership.CIRIA's activities cover the following the market sectors: Buildings and facilities, Transport, Water and utilities. www.ciria.com

The Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts, an autonomous, independent and multidisciplinary learned society for the practice and promotion of science and culture (see www.kvab.be) and the Academie Royale des Sciences, des Lettreset des Beaux-Arts de Belgique that serves to promote research and to encourage scientific and artistic undertakings as a centre of cooperation between Belgian scholars, scientists and artists, and between the latter and the scholars, scientists and artists of other countries (see www.arb.cfwb.be) contribute to the Royal Belgium Academy Council of Applied Science (BACAS) that studies the impact of technological development on society and prepares reports and provides advice for the government and leaders of industry, including a report on industrial biotechnology, as indicated below.

Biotechnology, or to be more specific the ethiccal aspects of the application of biotechnology, is the concern of Bioethics Today (see www.bioethics-today.org). This activity is primarily an Electronic Bioethics Resource for the United Kingdom that consists of a web-based resource developed by the Universities of Sheffield, Lancaster and Oxford, funded by The Wellcome Trust to provide information on ethical, medical, legal, social science and lay perspectives on biomedical research and biotechnology related to animals, humans and agriculture. The resource provides a forum for discussions about current issues as they unfold. It contributes to the European Information Network - Ethics in Medicine & Biotechnology that is funded by the EC under the Quality of Life programme of FP5. Further information can be found on the website eurethnet.drze.de/special_topics/gmf that is run by the German organisation with similar interests German Reference Centre for Ethics in the Life Sciences (DRZE), see www.drze.de

Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance The Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance is a national coalition of farmers, processors, marketers and researchers. The first commercial crop was produced in 1998. The industry is now six years old and has a promising future. Activites, promoted through the website (www.hemptrade.ca), are aimed at both the general public and towards those working in the industry.

SUPERGEN - Biomass, Biofuels and Energy Crops Consortium SUPERGEN is a consortium based project set up in the UK to foccus on the interaction between three key themes of a bioenergy system (biomass production, thermal conversion and utilisation of the resultant biofuels) and between each of these areas and the environment in its broadest sense. Further information is available through the newsletter (see below), or from the website www.supergen-bioenergy.net.

Funding Opportunity in Belgium for East Europeans

In order to promote cooperation with the countries from Central and Eastern Europe, a fellowship scheme has been implemented by the Federal Science Policy Office of Belgium enabling highly qualified researchers (i.e. postdoctoral level or equivalent experience) from these countries to work during 6 to 12 months in a Belgian research team.

The concerned countries are Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Baltic States, the new independent states of ex-USSR and the successor states of Yugoslavia. The potential Belgian host units are those which are involved in the research programmes and actions of the Federal Science Policy Office. The "Industrial Biology & Chemical " Unit of the University of Agriculture of Gembloux is one of the host units, where research are going on about: "Sustainability through Renewability" with an emphasis on surfactants and biopolymers from plants/agriculture. Applications should be sent to the Federal Science Policy Office by the Belgian project leaders. For the next selection, the application should be received by 31 January 2005.

More information and forms are available on www.belspo.be These must be returned before 31/01/2005.

Publications

European Commission

Key Action 5 - External Advisory Group Report This report discusses the research carried out under the first phase of the Commission's Fifth Framework Programme (1998 -2002) in a 32 page full-colour brochure that was published in 2003 (ISBN 92-894-5790-2) by the Office for Official Publications, Luxembourg. It covers all sectors of KA5, which dealt specifically with agriculture, fisheries and forestry research, including rural and coastal development and includes specific comments on QLK5.2. It is an indpendent review of the work carried out, showing what was done and the impact of the results, although the short time lapse and the fact that many projects continue after it had been written (and some had not even started) makes this aspect of more limited relevance. The text can be seen at europa.eu.int/comm/research/fp5/eag.html

The share of renewable energy in the EU In May 2004 the European Commission called for a stronger commitment of Member States to achieve the 2010 targets and produced a press release which indicated that to help achieve this the Commission adopted a new Communication on "The share of renewable energy in the EU" which evaluates the progress in the EUI5 to achieve the 2010 target of 22% of electricity consumption from renewable energy sources and the overall target of a 12% share of renewable energy use for all purposes. By 2001 the share of renewable energy had reached 6% to be compared with 40% for oil, 23% for natural gas, 15% for solid fuels and 16% for nuclear power. Only a few Member States have until now implemented an attractive framework for renewable energy sources. In view of the meagre results so far the Commission calls on Member States to ensure the fulfilment of the 2010 targets by the implementation of appropriate measures. The Commission proposes additional concrete actions at national and Community level. Further information can be found at europa.eu.int/comm/energy/res/documents/index_en.htm

Electricity from renewable energy sources - Encouraging green electricity in Europe This 14 page full colour brochure (isbn 92-894-6666-9) was published by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Energy and Transport (TREN) in July 2004. It explains the background and content of the EU'S 2001 directive on the promotion of electricity produced fromrenewable energy sources in the internal electricity market, otherwise known as 'the RES-E directive. Formally this is described as Directive 2007/77/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market (reference OJL 283,27.10.2001, p. 33). It includes information on the Directive, the status and sources of green electricity in Europe, National indicative targets, Support schemes, Grid issues and Guarentees and a reduction in administrative aspects that together should enhance the green electricity sector. The text can be obtained from the following website europa.eu.int/comm/energy/res/legislation/electricity_en.htm , a click on publications providing the doccument in several languages.

Promoting biofuels in Europe This 16 page full colour brochure (ISBN 92-894-66671-5) introduces the EU Biofuels Directive aimed at providing cleaner transport. It was published by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Energy and Transport (TREN) in December 2004. It explains the EU directive on the promotion of biofuels or other renewable fuels for transport.The current types of biofuels are summarised and the directive is set in the wider context of European and international commitments and objectives on security of energy supply, greenhouse gas emissions and renewable energy sources. The development of biofuels so far, within Europe and the world, is described. The directive's targets for biofuel substitution for conventional fuels are presented and the possible support measures, including fiscal exemptions and setting technical standards are summarised, as are the reporting requirements from the Members States The text can be obtained from the following website. europa.eu.int/comm/energy/res/publications/index_en.htm a click on the doccument title provides the doccument in several languages.

Other Publications

A strategy for non-food crops and uses - creating value from renewable materials This 45 page report was published by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in October 2004 by DEFRA Publications, under Crown Copyright (Product code PB 10188). The action paln is perhaps the most significant part of the doccument, since it sets out what the British Government has done, or intends to do, in support of non-food crops. To quote the doccument This action plan gives effect to the various strands of the strategy. Some of the actions are already in place, while others involve new intitiatives the need for which has been identified in previous analyses and in the consultations which have led to the publication of this strategy. The doccument is available on the DEFRA website: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/nonfoodcrops/index.htm

Biomass and Agriculture: sustainability, markets and policies These are the proceedings (560 pages, OECD 2004, ISBN 92 64 10555 7). from the OECD Workshop on Biomass and Agriculture, hosted by the Austrian authorities, that was held on 10-13 June 2003 in Vienna. The Workshop was part of the OECD work programme on agriculture and the environment under the auspices of the Joint Working Party on Agriculture and the Environment (JWP). It offered an opportunity to share knowledge and experiences on a range of issues regarding biomass and agriculture, in particular the Workshop examined the sustainability - economic, environmental, social - dimensions of agricultural biomass production and use. It reviewed current policy and market approaches used by OECD countries to promote agricultural biomass and use and explored possible policy options and market approaches to address policy and market failures in agricultural biomass markets. Further details can be found by entering the title in the search facility on the OECD website www.oecd.org, or through the link webdomino1.oecd.org/comnet/agr/BiomassAg.nsf

Biodegradable polymers and Sustainability: Insights from life cycle Assessment This 14 page full colour brochure is based on a review of current knowledge on the environmental profiles of biodegradable polymers (BDPs)Produced by Richard Murphy (imperial College, London) and Ian Bartle (on behalf of the National Non-Food Crops Centre). The research was supported by the Department of Trades and Industry's Sustainable Technologies Initiative. A copy is available as a PDF file on the following website link: www.nnfcc.co.uk/library/productreport/download.cfm?id=56.

Current Evaluation Procedures for Plant Protection Products Used in Organic Agriculture These are the proceedings of a workshop held September in Frick, Switzerland, edited by Bernhard Speiser and Otto Schmid. ISBN 3-906081-55-9, published April 2004.The meeting was supported by the European Commission under QLK5 as part of the project QLK5-CT-2002-02565, ORGANIC INPUTS EVALUATION') and co-funding by the Swiss Federal Office for Education and Science (BBW 02.0113). Paper copies may be ordered from the FiBL at a cost of 22 Swiss Francs or 15 Euro plus mailing costs (see FiRL shop at www.fibl.org/shop/), FiBL order number 1341. A PDF version can be downloaded free of charge from the project internet site at www.organicinputs.org or from orgprints.org

Industrial Biotechnology and Sustainable Chemistry This report (published January 2004, price Euro 12.50) was prepared by the Belgium Council of Applied Science (BACAS) that consists of CAWET and CAPAS committees of the Flemish and French Accademies of Science. The working group was taken from members of Universitiy Departments as well as Industrial and Commercial organisations. In view of the strategic importance of industrial biotechnology for the future of Belgium and the lack of a consistent policy in this area the BACAS working group formulated a number of recommendations directed towards government and industry. In particular they suggest that more Research and Development effort is needed in this domain, by specific research programmes both on a national and European level. The BACAS working group further recommends a number of political and fiscal measures, in which the de-taxation of biofuels is particularly urgent, when comparing the lack of initiative of the Belgian government compared to its neighbouring countries. Also, thy suggest, efforts to increase the public's awareness about industrial biotechnology are needed, with the added benefit that this is likely to improve the public's perception of biotechnology as a whole, in view of the clear link between industrial biotechnology and the sustainable development of society.

Industrial (White) Biotechnology This is a position document published by DSM in June 2004 covering industrial biotechnology in Europe and the Netherlands. It presents initial recommendations in the hope that the Dutch government would use the Dutch EU Presidency in the second half of 2004 to work out an action plan and present it to Europe. For The Netherlands the following priority setting is proposed for industrial biotechnology: focus on bio-based chemicals, and secondly on biomaterials, and finally on biofuels.The booklet also expressed the hope that white/industrial biotechnology programmes will become secure within the new EU RTD Framework Programme 7 (FP7). A copy of the brochure can be down-loaded from the following website link: www.dsm.com/en_US/downloads/sustainability/industrial_white_biotech.pdf

Biofuels for Transport This 16 page full colour brochure (ref: IEA Bioenergy - T39:2004:01) was produced in 2004 by the Implementing Agreement on Bioenergy, which forms part of a programme of international energy technology collaboration undertaken under the auspicies of the International Energy Agency. It concludes: 1) that biofuels are an increasingly important part of the motor fuel mix in many countries, with a total of about 30 billion litres used annually, in many different types of vehicles and across a wide range of climates and conditions; 2). Policies and regulations have been essential in the implementation of use of biofuels and will continue to be important in the future; 3) These policies allow the Governments that adopt them to achieve benefits in areas of environment, energy security and economic development. A copy can be obtained from the following link www.ieabioenergy.com/library/168_BiofuelsforTransport-Final.pdf

Recycling of wastewater and sludge in Salix plantations This eight page full colour brochure covers the sustainable and profitable use of waste resources and farmland in Europe for the production of biofuels. This purpose of this brochure, available in pdf format (1584 Kb), is to explain and detail the Swedish activities of growing willows for energy in combination with the treatment and/or recovery of municipal wastewater or sewage sludge.

British bio-energy news British Bioenergy News is produced by the UK-based consortium (SUPERGEN) working in the area of biomass energy in a project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The newsletter aims to contribute to a forum for information and news on bioenergy activities throughout the UK. Further information can be obtained from the website www.supergen-bioenergy.net

Green Chemical Technology - 2004 Roadmap The UK chemical industry is a vital part of our economy, accounting for 2% of GDP and 10% of manufacturing gross value added. The industry's products pervade our society and are c ritical to the quality of life currently enjoyed by the public. A thriving and sustainable chemical industry is vital to our future. Crystal has carried out this technology roadmapping study to identify the evolving needs of the chemical industry for green chemical technologies and to develop a strategy for their further development and implementation. The report analyses trends and drivers affecting the industry and identifies eight areas of green chemical technology to deliver improved sustainability. Key messages to stakeholders - government, industry and academia are articulated, and strategies for the development of a more sustainable chemical industry presented. This report provides a valuable communications tool to all stakeholders as well as high-level roadmap to form the basis of your own organisation's technology planning. The report can be obtained from the following website www.crystalfaraday.org, by clicking on the following Item on the right hand side of the home page 'Technology Roadmap Launch 28/10/2004 Crystal's 2004 roadmap charts the way ahead to a more sustainable chemical industry'

Research Results: Details of Projects recently added to the website

Most of the Items that have been added or revised during the final reporting period of BioMatNet come from QLK 5.2 projects. When the extension was granted, it was hoped that this would enable a comprehensive representation of the activities to be presented. However, this has not been possible due to availability (or lack) of the required reports.

FP5 - QLK5.2 - Renewable Biomaterials
FP5 - Other Projects