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A deep dive into the fascinating world of ethnaol as we seek to clean our air, and then onto the fast-growing world of engineered carbon to improve our soils. In our opening segment this morning as we explore the growth of ethanol not only as a domestic US industry but as a stellar performer in generating US exports and addressing the balance of carbon in the sky trade is Emily Skor, she’s the new CEO at Growth Energy, a leading renewable fuels trade group. Later in the program we’ll continue looking carbon — in this case, adding carbon to the soil to improve plant productivity and reducing water use. We'll look at engineered soil carbon, with Wes Bolsen from CoolPlanet talking about the new generation of carbon soil products — how they work and who they work for — from hobby gardeners to commercial agriculture.

Companies like American Process are reinventing materials science with the commercialization of nanocellulose, a fiber stronger than steel yet flexible, light and affordable. At the same time, technologists at companies like Impossible Foods, Modern Meadow, and Perfect Day are showing us that they can synthetically generate meat without the cow, leather without the cow and milk without the cow. These and more transformative technologies go under the microscope as we are joined by Nuu Digest writer Gary Scoggins and by American Process' lead nanocellulose inventor, Kim Nelson.

Listeners and Digest readers have been submitting questions for this episode, in which we review with Will Thurmond the latest on new materials that are changing the world around you — and then take calls and online questions for readers and listeners on new products — from spider silk ties to new petrochemical-free pesticides, flavoring, fragrances, packaging and more — plus hot companies, trend myths and trend realities, the impact of changes in Washington DC, and changes in commodity markets that are shaping the pace and direction of change.

Live from the floor of ABLC - the leadership conference for the bioeconomy - top innovators from DuPont, DSM, Algenol and Genomatica reveal and discuss the latest opportunities and targets in sustainable biomaterials and advanced foods — from cool products available now to those in R&D.

The state of play with the development of renewable jet, and looking specifically at companies that originally (or still) aimed to make renewable jet such as TerraVia, Evolva, Amyris, Heliae and Virent - that now have branched into flavors, fragrances, beauty creams, advanced foods, nutraceuticals, the Coca-Cola Plant Bottle and more.

From genetics to nutritional supplements, age-defying technologies are coming on-line almost every day. In this episode, we'll look at advances in product ingredients, nutrition, and health supplements coming out of advanced biotechnology that promise to slow down the aging process and the onset of disease. What's real, what's hype - we look behind the headlines to uncover the real story.

Looking beyond the headlines into the newest sustainable products and trends, such as General Mills leads $6M investment in Rhythm Superfoods Valensa and Algal Scientific commercialize microalgae for human immune support Eating hot chili peppers really can make you live longer Agribotix and senseFly's drone and data analysis bundle Rockefeller Foundation leads effort to cut food waste in half by 2030 Biotica partners with HempTech to develop pharma grade marijuana strains Divergent 3D Gets $23M for 3D Printed Car in Production U.S. Navy Taps into Hagfish Slime for Military Defense Want to Prevent or Delay Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease? Eat Some Mushrooms Synthetic Genomics and ExxonMobil Extend Algae Biofuels Agreement No Need to Wait for Organ Transplant? Organ and Tissue Manufacturing Initiative Moving Forward U.S. Army is looking for a few good biobased, seed-conveying bullets Hemp plane looks to fly high Swedish researchers advance spider silk

Most flavors and fragrances are made from petroleum, did you know that? The new technology wave is bringing forward a set of clean, natural alternatives made from waste materials and renewable sugars. In this episode, we'll be joined by longtime Flavors & Fragrances industry expert Scott Chaplin, industrial biotech expert Ron Cascone, and James Stephens, co-CEO of Blue Marble Biomaterials, one of the leading companies in this new innovative wave. What can you make, what is is made from — why is the natural option more sustainable, reliable, just as affordable and increasingly available? We'll look at sweeteners, fragrances, even Blue Marble's hit bacon flavor and smokehouse barbecue flavors, too!

Companies like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Suntory, Heinz, SeaWorld and Ford have embarked on the search for technology to make a durable, clear plastic bottle entirely from renewable resources. Recently, two technologies have emerged as potential winners. Suntory has invested in Anellotech and Coca-Cola has invested in Avantium. In today's program, we'll talk with Avantium CEO Tom van Aken and Anellotech CEO David Sudolsky to see how close we are getting to a clear plastic bottle that doesn't require petroleum to be taken from the ground, and doesn't add to global carbon emissions. Also, we'll look at what else these technologies can make — and the answers will surprise and delight you.

9 billion people by 2050, that’s the population that the UN is telling us that we are going to have. That’s a lot of mouths to feed with the same land base - and with more urbanization, who knows how much land we’ll have to use. One new company coming up fast in Crop Enhancement, tirelessly working to increase crop yields and in a sustainable way. We'll be joined by CEO Kevin Chen and Chief Technology Officer David Soane. Later in the program we'll look at growing fuels, nutraceuticals and protein in the water, via algae. Will Thurmond, author of Algae 2020, joins us as we look at the technologies that are changing the way we make everything from vitamins to omega-3 fatty acids, and the protein we feed to farm animals.