#biodesic

[gay-forest-spirit-liberation]

I can't believe it's been a year already, but it's grape to see you again. 🍇👀 #MakeAmericaGrapeAgain #fayetteville #arkansas #ecological #permaculture #gardening #growyourown #Biodesic #organic #gayfarmer #ecoqueer (at Fayetteville, Arkansas)

[fumpkins]

Renewable rubber hits the road :

document.write('<a style="display:none!important" id="2580009">'); if (window.AED_SHOW) window.AED_SHOW(wid: '2580009',shortkey:'E2J2jQN', size:'728x90', custom:); else window.AED_ONLOAD = window.AED_ONLOAD

Deal between Amyris and Michelin highlights industry’s hunt for a profitable niche.

Amyris expects its renewable isoprene to be used in making tyres by 2015.Glowimages

When the synthetic biology industry was in its infancy a decade ago, it offered some world-changing opportunities. As researchers showed that microbes could be engineered to produce cheaper medicines, or to turn renewable feedstocks such as sugar cane into substitutes for fossil fuels, start-up companies rushed to exploit these possibilities.

But as the industry matures, it has become clear that it must diversify if it is to flourish. That means making some rather more prosaic products, such as cat food or face cream — or tyres.

This week saw the latest announcement that exemplified the trend. Amyris, a synthetic-biology company in Emeryville, California, agreed to work with French tyre manufacturer Michelin to produce isoprene, the chemical building block used to make synthetic rubber.

Amyris is most famous for producing a cheap, synthetic version of the anti-malarial drug artemisinin, the first batches of which are scheduled to be sold by Paris-based drug firm Sanofi next year. But Amyris no longer develops medicines, and has instead built itself into a synthetic chemical shop specializing in lubricants, fragrances, plastics ingredients and other products.

These products are usually made with chemicals derived from oil. Eighty-five percent of the volume of a barrel of oil is used to make fuel, but the chemicals that come from the remaining 15% account for 85% of the barrel’s monetary value.

For a small biotechnology firm aiming to sell fuel, competing with giant petrochemical companies that have enormous, cost-effective operations has proved to be a tall order. “Everyone thought they were going to take on Exxon initially, but that’s not the best model,” says Rob Carlson, principal at Biodesic, an engineering and consulting company based in Seattle, Washington.

Instead, smaller companies are increasingly hoping to make a profit from higher-value specialist chemicals, often in collaboration with bigger partners. Bio-derived chemicals still account for just 1–2% of the overall chemicals market, but that is still expected to amount to about US$1 billion next year, Carlson estimated in a report this year.

Palo Alto, California-based company Genencor, for example, has been working since 2008 with the Akron, Ohio-based Goodyear tyre company to make isoprene. Genencor is owned by the Copenhagen-based company, Danisco, which was bought earlier this year by US chemical giant DuPont for $5.8 billion.

Solazyme, of South San Francisco, California, which extracts oils from bioengineered algae, has a partnership with UK-based Unilever, which owns the Dove and Vaseline brands, to make cosmetic ingredients. And in April, Dow Chemical of Midland, Michigan partnered with Boulder, Colorado-based OPX Biotechnologies to make bio-derived acrylic, a component of many plastics. The list goes on.

Conventional chemicals companies such as Dow and DuPont are interested in part because bio-derived versions of their products can be marketed as ‘green’. In many cases, they come from renewable sources that have a lower carbon footprint than petrochemicals. The rising cost of oil is also an important factor. “That’s driving companies to look at renewables like isoprene,” says Mark Bünger, Research Director at Lux Research in San Francisco.

Moving on, not giving up

Biofuels remain an important part of the portfolio of Amyris and other major synthetic biology companies, but they are years away from replacing petroleum-derived fuels. It will also take enormous amounts of feedstock to meet the world’s energy demand.

And it’s hard to predict when biofuels will become more cost-effective than petroleum, because they rely heavily on government loans or tax breaks that can wax or wane depending on political whims.

ADVERTISEMENT

In contrast, companies can start making money from specialty chemicals now, and can depend on them as a source of revenue, says Christopher Ryan, president of Gevo, an Englewood, Colorado-based company that retrofits existing biofuels plants to make renewable isobutanol. “We can develop our business plans without uncertainty around what the government might do with regard to biofuel subsidies and things like that — that’s the nice thing about the chemicals market,” he says.

Bio-derived tyres may not seem as world-changing as biofuels, but, as Carlson points out, “We have built our modern world on access to those petrochemicals, so replacing them is at least important as replacing petroleum with biofuels.” 

Follow Erika on Twitter at @Erika_Check

New post published on: http://www.livescience.tech/2018/03/11/renewable-rubber-hits-the-road/

[gay-forest-spirit-liberation]

Tomato Hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) and Tobacco Hornworms (Manduca sexta) can do an alarming amount of damage in a short amount of time. Short-sighted gardeners often assume this large caterpillar is nothing but a pest, when in fact the sphyx moth aka hummingbird-moth they become is a beneficial pollinator. ... ... Providing a sacrificial plant that you can relocate your Hornworms to, allows them to eat their fill and move on to their next phase of life where they pollinate our crops. ... ... Anything in the Solanaceae family (tomatos and peppers) will do, or another strategy is to interplant sacrificial basil and/or dill which they prefer over your tomatoes. ... ... ... #permaculture #organic #gardening #ecology #biodesic #garden #caterpillar #insects #entomology #growyourown #arkansas #fayetteville #ozarks (at Fayetteville, Arkansas)

[gay-forest-spirit-liberation]

You know me. I see something interesting and green, and have to take a picture with it in my face. 😅 ... ... If you wanna know the details of this huge critter check out my recent post on my business page @biodesic ... ... ... #forestface #permaculture #gardening #ecoqueer #solarpunk #arkansas #gaygardener #caterpillar #biodesic (at Fayetteville, Arkansas) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmkR7TjlTmS/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=15ty2919gk2ll

[gay-forest-spirit-liberation]

Sheet-mulching is a technique that not only saves a gardener's time and energy -- but elimates the need to till the soil completely. Tilling your soil can be destructive to soil life and counter-intuitively increase soil-compaction. ... ... Using cardboard, newspaper, burlap, or even sheets (cotton or biodegradable fabrics only) the desired area is covered in order to smother the weeds below. Then compost, soil, straw, and/or wood chips are applied on top. ... ... This technique is often used in combination with lasanga-gardening or hugelkultur to maximize permaculture efficiency. ... ... ... #permaculture #sustainability #gardening #arkansas #fayetteville #growyourown #hugelkultur #ecological #notill #organic #biodesic (at Fayetteville, Arkansas)

[gay-forest-spirit-liberation]

All varieties of bamboo produce edible shoots in the spring, however some varities are bitter or too tough to be considered for cullinary use. ... ... Many people see it's invasive spreading nature as a problem but when reconsidered as a harvestable food crop spreading is eliminated/controlled and the yeild is a delicious protein rich food! ... ... #permaculture #arkansas #fayetteville #growyourown #sustainability #gardening #foodforest #food #edible #bamboo #organic #biodesic (at Fayetteville, Arkansas)

[gay-forest-spirit-liberation]

Developing land requires foresight and vision to guide you to the appropriate actions in the appropriate sequence. Do you dream of transforming your land into a permaculture homestead, farm, or event center? We can provide you with the knowledge and visuals to make that dream a reality. #fayetteville #arkansas #permaculture #gardening #homestead #sustainability #growyourown #development #biodesic #ecofuturism (at Fayetteville, Arkansas)

[gay-forest-spirit-liberation]

Fall and early winter is the ideal time for the planting of most trees. After the leaves drop the plants energy and sap is stored in it's roots which then experience most of their growth during these dormant months. When spring arrives the tree is well established and ready to send it's energy upwards into fresh growth. ... ... Be sure when planting that the hole is large enough to prevent any bending of the roots. If the soil is high in clay be sure to avoid glazing the sides with your shovel which can lead to root constriction. Digging a square hole instead of a circle can help prevent glazing or you can score the sides of the hole after digging it. ... ... With this pear tree from Guy Ames Orchard we planted a comfrey plant in the same hole. Comfrey has deep, penetrating taproots that increase the depth of water infiltration, and slowly fix compacted clay soils. As well the comfrey plants broad leaves will shade out tree choking grasses and provide vital plant nutrients such as potassium when chopped into mulch. ... ... ... ... ... ... #permaculture #sustainability #fayetteville #trees #garden #gardening #arkansas #organic #growyourown #ecological #growsomething #biodesic (at Arkansas)

[gay-forest-spirit-liberation]

I got backhoes in different area codes. #permaculture #arkansas #queer #ecoqueer #gayfarmer #sustainability #Biodesic #growyourown #ecological (at Arkansas)

[gay-forest-spirit-liberation]

I bet you never thought you'd meet a fly as agreeable as the soldier fly. These creatures have no mouth so they have no interest in your food unlike pesky house flies. They exist for a short time only to mate and lay their eggs, which is where the exciting Permaculture functions come into play. ... .... Soldier fly larvae can convert all kinds of waste, even those incompatible with vermiculture (worm composting) such as animal products and sewage, quicker and more efficiently than other systems. The larvae are voracious eaters, breaking down food waste, paper, and cardboard and converting it into a rich soil admendment. ... .... The larvae then self harvest by crawling out and dropping into a bucket below to pupate. These larvae then make excellent protein rich poultry food or can be added to other compost piles. ... .... Cultivating these good flies can actually dramatically lower the level of pest flies (which are vectors for disease) in the area because the soldier flies compete for egg laying substrates. ... Hermetia illucens ... #permaculture #arkansas #fayetteville #ozarks #entomology #bugs #insects #foodwaste #compost #vermiculture #soldierfly #permies #sustainability #wastemanagement #fly #biodesic (at Fayetteville, Arkansas)

[gay-forest-spirit-liberation]

Cudrang is a East Asian relative of the Osage Orange and the Mulberry tree. It's fruit are larger and usually much sweeter and more tart than a mulberry. ... Guy Ames has cultivated both seedless and seeded cudrang trees for Ozark growing and has dubbed the cultivar Zombie fruit for it's brain shaped berries that ripen in October. ... .... ..... #Permaculture #Arkansas #Ozarks #organic #growyourown #gardening #sustainability #Fayetteville #gayfarmer #Queer #ecoqueer #lobotany #orchard #FoodForest #halloween #zombie #mulberry #trees #biodesic #biodesicstrategies (at Ames Orchard & Nursery)

[gay-forest-spirit-liberation]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Biodesic Strategies (@biodesic)

Worms are one of the most powerful allies for soil-crafting. They can convert food waste into nutrient rich worm-castings faster and more efficiently than a traditional compost pile. Vermiculture, the practice of raising worms, is an ideal technique for urban gardeners who may be limited on space. Shout-out to @unclejimswormfarm If you're looking for some healthy works of your own. Red Wiggler's are a good choice for bin/shallow composting. #Permaculture #worms #vermiculture #gardenersofinstagram #garden #GrowYourOwn #sustainability #Arkansas #Fayetteville #compost #soil #fertilizer #urbanfarming #urbangardener #dirt #foodwaste #reuse #biodesic #biodesicstrategies (at Fayetteville, Arkansas)

[gay-forest-spirit-liberation]

After I couldn't think if one, I tried to find a rutabaga pun on the internet but there are none anywhere. I'm sure one will turnip eventually. #Permaculture #Arkansas #Fayetteville #Gardening #growyourown #ecoqueer #gayfarmer #queer #turnip #rutabaga #punny #urbanfarming #sustainability #solarpunk #biodesic #biodesicstrategies #organic (at Arkansas)

[gay-forest-spirit-liberation]

Sweden Creek Farm is likely the most productive organic log-grown shiitake farm in the United States. Their prime location nestled in the Ozarks mountains and signature technique allows them to harvest everyday of the year at an average of 1,100 pounds a week. In permaculture we learn how important selection of species and variety can be. Sweden Creek Farm is the only shiitake grower in the United States authorized to grow the propriety strains of shiitake provided by the scientist and Japanese company that originally brought shiitake to North America. Their mushrooms are available locally at @ozarknaturalfoods served at @crystalbridgesmuseum over 40 restaurants and markets in Arkansas, as well as food distributors throughout the US. We learn from their example that by experimenting with micro-climate, technique, and strain, enormous yields and resilience are possible and can result in achieving something that has never been done before quite like it. #Permaculture #Arkansas #Ozarks #shiitake #mushrooms #farming #organic #mycology #pioneer #biodesic #GrowYourOwn #agriculture #sustainability #gardening #crystalbridges #ozarknaturalfoods #Fayetteville #ozark #mountains #swedencreekfarm #growfood (at Sweden Creek Farm)

[gay-forest-spirit-liberation]

Frogs, toads, and other amphibians are good bio-indicators of a healthy ecosystem. When water becomes polluted these animals that live half their lives in water and breathe through their skin are the first to disappear. They provide a crucial role in reducing pesky insect populations. To encourage your local frog and toad population try adding a water feature, and plenty of habitat for them to hide in like rock & brush piles, logs, and bushy low-growing vegetation. #permaculture #arkansas #fayetteville #ozarks #frog #toad #amphibian #bioindicator #synergistic #garden #gardenersofinstagram #sustainability #biodiversity #mushroom #fungus #toadstool #fayettevillelovesyou #wonderfularkansas #naturephotography #native #wildlifehabitat #pollution #eco #biodesic #permies #growyourown (at Fayetteville, Arkansas)

[gay-forest-spirit-liberation]

Green Dragon or Dragon root is an uncommon plant of the Ozarks that borders on being endangered in many states. This native plant with a strikingly unique appearance was used ceremoniously by indigenous people of the area to induce prophetic dreams but all parts of the plant are considered toxic, including an intensely painful skin reaction that can be likened to... I don't know, a dragons breath? Arisaema dracontium #Biodesic #Permaculture (at Arkansas)