Entries by Thomas Gabrielczyk

Altri acquires majority stake in fibre specialist AeoniQ

Portuguese fibre producer Altri SGPS S.A.has signed an agreement to acquire a majority interest in Swiss clean technology company AeoniQ to support the commercial-scale development of the first fully biodegradable cellulose-based filament designed to replace polyester and nylon.

Parliament halts trilogue talks on New Genomic Breeding Techniques

Final negotiations on proposed EU regulations for plants developed through genetic precision breeding have been delayed, following opposition from a group of MEPs in the European Parliament’s ENVI Committee. The group criticised the European Council and the European Commission for their inflexible stance on issues such as sustainability, labelling, and patent protection.

EU Commissioner Várhelyi revives Biotech Act for 2025

In a surprise move, Health Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi announced at the Medicines for Europe Annual Conference that the EU Biotech Act will go ahead this year, reversing its provious delay from Q3 2025 to Q3 2026. The legislation has now been fast-tracked because the Commission recognised biotechnology’s rising geostrategic weight.

UK to invest £380m in Engineering Biology

The UK government has unveiled a new industrial strategy that includes a commitment to invest £380m in engineering biology. The package comprises an initial £196m for research and development, and a further £184m for the expansion and modernisation of pilot and scale-up infrastructure.

Italy and Germany block central green deal legislation

The European Commission has scraped a key piece of Green Deal legislation following political shifts within the European Parliament. The move came after Italy, governed by a far-right administration of Georgia Meloni, aligned itself with the European People’s Party (EPP) on the matter.

Rapid progress in cultivated meat

Cultivated meat is expected to reach price parity with conventional meat sooner than previously forecast, according to a new analysis by technology foresight specialist GetFocus.