Found on DesMoinesRegister.com
The green slime or pond scum that comes from algae could be valuable after all. Renewable Energy Group of Ames says it has developed a process that takes the oil from algae and turns it into biodiesel fuel.

“Algae oil would give us a third option as a biodiesel feedstock after soybean oil and animal fats,” said Daniel Oh, chief operating officer of Renewable Energy Group.

That would be a breakthrough of seismic proportions for the biodiesel industry. The soybean oil that has been the basic oil feedstock for biodiesel has doubled in price in the last 18 months, robbing operating biodiesel plants of their profitability and forcing shutdowns or delays at other facilities.

Researchers around the nation are trying to skim energy from algae.

“People who have made fun of green slime and pond scum won’t do it in the future, when they find out not only how valuable the oil is but also the byproducts,” said Jimmy Simpson, an algae researcher at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield…….

Read the FULL story at the Des Moines Register.

This week, the Global Environment Facility, has launched a new $27 million dollar project with the goal of saving animals that are needed to pollinate the many crops of the world. The United Nations Environment Programme will implement the program with the help of worldwide governments including Brazil, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan and South Africa. Many national agencies and institutions will help to support this project and protect these key species.

The goal of the program is to help protect species that pollinate some 35% of the worlds crops. Recently, the earth has seen the dramatic decline of entire populations of honey bees thought to be caused mainly by pesticides, pathogens, and parasites. In the United States, one particular pathogen thought to be infecting bees is called Nosema ceranae, and infects the digestive system. In the past, parasitic mites have caused winter die-offs that cause populations increased stress and lower productivity. Though many theories have been published, too little research has been done to single out any one source of population declines.

Many wild animals also rely on plants and fruits that require insects and birds to pollinate first. Blueberries, apples, pears, plums, melons, and cucumbers are just some of the crops that benefit from animals providing cross-pollination. With the decline of honey bees, birds, and bats, the future of crop production is at stake.

This project is important because it will help to identify the causes of the decline of pollinating bees, birds, bats, and insects. With a large budget of nearly $27 million, the ecosystems and habitats of these animals can be repaired and strengthened to provide an area that promotes healthy reproduction and population building. Without these steps, the world could face a widening food shortage as crops decline and fail to pollinate. By addressing this issue, the GEF and UNEP hope to balance this process which in turn will help to stabilize ecosystems that provide many other benefits. Sustainable agriculture depends on providing a safe, healthy environment for the many animals and insects that help to create the crops that humans consume everyday.