Core Insights - The article discusses the recent announcement by COFCO Technology regarding a new investment project aimed at expanding its starch sugar production capacity and entering the functional sugar market [1][2]. Project Progress - COFCO Technology plans to invest 880 million yuan to construct a new facility in Pingliang, Gansu Province, with a production capacity of 250,000 tons/year of starch sugar and 10,000 tons/year of D-alloheptulose [1]. - The construction period for the project is set to be 20 months from the board's approval to trial production [1]. - The project will include various facilities such as starch sugar workshops, D-alloheptulose workshops, bottling workshops, wastewater treatment systems, and finished product warehouses [1]. Strategic Importance - This project aligns with COFCO Technology's "14th Five-Year" development strategy and aims to fill the gap in the starch sugar market in the northwest region of China [2]. - The development of D-alloheptulose products is seen as a key direction for COFCO Technology to cultivate new productive forces and expand into strategic emerging industries [2]. Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, COFCO Technology reported a revenue of 4.449 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 14.65%, and a net loss attributable to shareholders of 28.06 million yuan, an increase of 45.91% compared to the previous year [3]. - For the first three quarters of 2025, the company achieved a revenue of 13.262 billion yuan, down 12.31% year-on-year, while the net profit attributable to shareholders was 79.186 million yuan, a significant increase of 724.42% [3].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes that the three core challenges for the industrialization of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) are policy, certification, and raw materials [1][2]. Group 1: Event Overview - The SAF industry exchange conference was successfully held on November 27, 2025, in Hangzhou, organized by the National Key Laboratory of Bio-based Transportation Fuel Technology and DT New Materials [2]. - The conference gathered 30 top experts and representatives from various institutions, including Zhejiang University and China Southern Airlines, to discuss key issues in SAF development [2]. Group 2: SAF Market and Technology - The aviation industry accounts for 12% of carbon emissions in the transportation sector, with annual emissions reaching 1 billion tons. According to IATA, 65% of carbon reduction in aviation must come from SAF by 2050, indicating a trillion-dollar market potential [8]. - The report compares four main technological routes for SAF production: HEFA, AtJ, G+FT, and PtL. The AtJ route is identified as the most investment-worthy due to its wide raw material sources and high emission reduction efficiency of 85%-100% [8][6]. Group 3: Technological Innovations - The new generation AtJ technology developed by Zhejiang University has achieved three core breakthroughs: flexible raw material adaptability, innovative pathways for simultaneous conversion of low-carbon raw materials, and comprehensive utilization of biomass components [9]. - The AtJ technology has transitioned from laboratory to industrialization, leading to the establishment of New航源 (Hangzhou) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. [9]. Group 4: Economic Viability and Market Trends - The AtJ technology significantly reduces SAF production costs, enhancing profit margins. Current market prices in Europe reach $2,950 per ton, with the technology expected to address the economic bottleneck of SAF [11]. - The new PtL technology has completed laboratory development and is rapidly advancing towards scaling up [12]. Group 5: Industry Challenges and Recommendations - Experts agree that the SAF industry faces challenges in policy clarity, certification standards, raw material supply stability, and cost-sharing mechanisms among stakeholders [16][17][18][20]. - A complete ecosystem for SAF, including raw materials, processing, certification, and usage, is essential for industry growth. Investment institutions are particularly interested in the lower fixed asset investment required for the AtJ route [23]. Group 6: Future Outlook - The SAF industry in China is entering a golden period of development, driven by expanding pilot programs, continuous technological breakthroughs, and an improving industrial chain [23].

Core Viewpoint - Zhongke Kangyuan has successfully completed its first round of financing, marking a significant milestone in its development of non-grain biomass manufacturing technology using straw as a raw material, receiving recognition from both state-owned enterprises and local venture capital institutions [1] Group 1: Addressing Straw Conversion Challenges - China generates over 900 million tons of agricultural and forestry waste annually, with about 700 million tons being agricultural straw, but the resource utilization rate remains low [3] - Zhongke Kangyuan focuses on the efficient biological conversion of lignocellulosic biomass, having developed a proprietary continuous controllable temperature oxidation pretreatment process that effectively breaks down the degradation barriers of straw [3][4] Group 2: Supporting Livestock Industry Cost Reduction and Efficiency - The "New Energy Source" digestible sugar and protein products developed by Zhongke Kangyuan have over 55% digestible sugar content and over 8% crude protein content, allowing for a 1:1 replacement of corn in ruminant feed [7] - Trials at a leading domestic enterprise's farm showed an increase of 0.19 kg/day in dry matter intake per cow, with feed costs decreasing by over 0.35 yuan per cow per day, while improving milk fat and protein rates [7][8] Group 3: 200,000 Ton Project Commencement - The 200,000-ton straw bioconversion project in Tangshan has officially commenced production, covering 70 acres with a total investment of 240 million yuan, utilizing proprietary equipment and an intelligent control system [9] - Zhongke Kangyuan is accelerating the replication of this industrialization across major agricultural production areas in China, establishing a resource utilization network covering key straw-producing regions [9] Group 4: Aligning with National Development Goals - The national strategy emphasizes the importance of "biomanufacturing" as a key direction for future industries, focusing on high-value utilization of agricultural and forestry waste and the development of non-grain biomass conversion technologies [10] - Zhongke Kangyuan's technology aligns with these policies, aiming to alleviate feed grain pressure and provide non-grain carbon sources for downstream industries, contributing to China's transition from "catching up" to "leading" in biomanufacturing [10]

Core Insights - The "5th Non-Grain Biomass High-Value Utilization Forum (NFUCon 2025)" was successfully held in Hangzhou from November 27 to 29, focusing on the economic feasibility of non-grain biomass utilization and its related policies, technologies, and market expectations [1][3]. Group 1: Forum Overview - The forum was co-hosted by Ningbo Detaizhong Research Information Technology Co., Ltd. and the National Key Laboratory of Bio-based Transportation Fuel Technology, with over 400 industry experts and representatives attending [3]. - Key topics discussed included the high-value utilization of non-grain biomass chemicals and materials, clean pretreatment of non-grain resources, and sustainable expansion of non-grain resources [3]. Group 2: Key Presentations - Academician Ren Qilong presented advancements in non-grain biomass research, focusing on functionalization of biomass macromolecules and directed chemical conversion [6][8]. - Academician Xu Chunbao discussed the development of efficient catalytic systems for the selective conversion of glucose and fructose into HMF, which is crucial for producing bio-based chemicals [10]. - Researcher Zhu Jin highlighted the importance of bio-based polymers and recent policy developments in non-grain biomass utilization [12]. Group 3: Industry Applications - Deputy Mayor Yang Shufei introduced a complete bio-based materials industrial chain in Nanle, achieving an annual output value exceeding 3 billion yuan and creating over 12,000 jobs [14]. - Professor Xu Feng presented work on the green and efficient separation of lignin, emphasizing its applications in functional materials [16]. Group 4: Thematic Forums - The first thematic forum on non-grain biomass chemicals and materials featured discussions on biomass conversion strategies and the production of platform compounds [17][19]. - The second thematic forum on non-grain biomass energy focused on the strategic importance of cellulose ethanol and advancements in anaerobic fermentation technology [36][40]. Group 5: Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) - Researcher Zhang Le emphasized that sustainable aviation fuel is a viable path for carbon reduction in the aviation industry, with multiple technological routes being explored [55]. - Manager Tang Xiao shared Axens' leading position in biomass technology and its core SAF technologies, including HEFA and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis [57]. Group 6: Youth Forum and Industry Exchange - The forum included a Youth Forum to promote visibility for young scientists in the bio-based field, featuring 21 researchers sharing their latest work [68]. - An industry exchange meeting on SAF gathered 30 participants to discuss trends, technological routes, and sustainable certification [89].

Core Points - The "2025 (Fifth) Non-Grain Biomass High-Value Utilization Forum" will be held from November 27-29, 2025, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, focusing on innovations and commercialization in the non-grain biomass sector [2] - The forum aims to promote large-scale applications of non-grain biomass utilization to support carbon neutrality goals [2] Event Details - The forum will feature nearly 50 reports discussing key strategic directions such as green pretreatment of biomass, non-grain sugars, biomass-based chemicals and materials, and biomass energy including methanol, fuel ethanol, biogas, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) [2] - Registration and check-in will occur on November 27 from 12:00 to 20:00, with various activities scheduled throughout the event [4][9] Organizing Institutions - The forum is co-hosted by DT New Materials and the National Key Laboratory of Biomass Transportation Fuel Technology, with notable figures from various academic and research institutions involved [8][6] Agenda Highlights - The agenda includes specialized forums on non-grain biomass chemicals and materials, as well as biomass energy, with sessions dedicated to topics like biomass methanol, fuel ethanol, and biogas [9][30] - Keynote speeches will be delivered by prominent experts, including academicians and industry leaders, discussing advancements in biomass conversion technologies and sustainable fuel production [23][30] Networking Opportunities - The forum will also host a special session for industry exchanges on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), inviting over 20 guests from relevant sectors to discuss trends and collaborative opportunities [20][9] Technology Showcase - A technology showcase will be held to connect innovative projects with commercial potential in the biomass utilization field, encouraging industry-academia collaboration [35]

Core Viewpoint - The research led by Zhang Yiheng's team at the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology has achieved a breakthrough in converting cellulose into starch with a conversion rate of 93.3%, significantly improving the previous theoretical limit of 50% and addressing food security issues in China [4][11][12]. Group 1: Food Security Challenges - China faces a food security dilemma with 1.58 billion tons of imported grain in 2024, including 26.4 million tons of starch-based grains and approximately 100 million tons of soybeans, while 600 million tons of straw are wasted annually [9][10]. - The annual production of terrestrial plants generates about 2 billion tons of lignocellulose, which is 26 times the current grain production, indicating a potential to create a new agricultural scale by utilizing just 4% of this resource [10]. Group 2: Technological Breakthroughs - The new "multi-enzyme molecular machine" technology allows for the conversion of cellulose to starch with a theoretical yield of nearly 100%, overcoming the limitations of traditional microbial metabolism [4][11]. - The innovative design includes a "recycling system" for glucose, which was previously wasted, and employs a seven-enzyme system to achieve the conversion [11][12]. Group 3: Industrial Applications - The first application target is in the chiral drug separation market, where the newly synthesized starch can meet high precision separation needs, previously dominated by Japanese companies [14][19]. - The team has established a collaboration with Suzhou Nano Micro Technology to utilize their expertise in surface modification, enhancing the performance of the new starch for drug separation [14][19]. Group 4: Commercialization Strategy - Zhang Yiheng emphasizes the importance of aligning technology with market needs, introducing the concept of "PC value" (Product Cost ratio) to guide the commercialization of biomanufactured products [15][18]. - The strategy includes a three-step approach to maximize the value of lignocellulosic resources, starting with the extraction of hemicellulose for high-value products before processing cellulose into starch [17][18]. Group 5: Future Directions - The team aims to reduce enzyme costs and scale up the production process while exploring applications in plant-based capsules and biodegradable materials [18][19]. - Zhang Yiheng's vision includes transforming agricultural waste into valuable food sources, contributing to China's food security and economic growth [18][22].

Core Insights - Xiushi Biopharmaceuticals (Nantong) Co., Ltd. has completed nearly 100 million yuan in Series A financing, led by existing shareholder Huatai Zijin, with additional investments from Shicui Capital, Jinding Capital, and Hunan Aichen [2][3] - Established in 2020, Xiushi Biopharmaceuticals focuses on synthetic biology and innovative peptide synthesis, becoming a national high-tech enterprise [2] - The company has developed a peptide innovation biosynthesis technology platform, overcoming industry bottlenecks in the biosynthesis of complex cyclic peptides, and is a leader in large-scale biosynthesis of complex short peptide drugs in China [2][3] Company Development - Xiushi Biopharmaceuticals has built an AI-enabled R&D center of over 5,000 square meters and a 13,000 square meter intelligent peptide drug production base, capable of flexible production from gram-level R&D samples to ton-level commercial products [3] - The company can meet both small-batch clinical sample needs and support large-scale commercial supply, positioning itself as a leading enterprise in the peptide biosynthesis field [3] - The successful completion of this financing round reflects continued recognition from existing investors and interest from new strategic investors, highlighting the company's growth potential [3]

Core Points - The "2025 (Fifth) Non-Grain Biomass High-Value Utilization Forum" will be held from November 27-29, 2025, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, focusing on innovations and commercialization in the non-grain biomass sector [2] - The forum aims to promote large-scale applications of non-grain biomass utilization to support carbon neutrality goals [2] Event Details - The forum will feature nearly 50 presentations discussing key strategic areas such as green pretreatment of biomass, non-grain sugars, biomass-based chemicals and materials, and biomass energy including methanol, fuel ethanol, biogas, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) [2] - Registration and check-in will occur on November 27 from 12:00 to 20:00, with various activities scheduled throughout the event [4][9] Organizing Institutions - The forum is co-hosted by DT New Materials and the National Key Laboratory of Biomass Transportation Fuel Technology, with notable figures from various academic and research institutions involved [8][6] Agenda Highlights - The agenda includes a youth forum on non-grain biomass innovations, a SAF industry exchange meeting, and thematic forums on biomass chemicals, materials, and energy [9][30] - Keynote speakers include prominent researchers and industry leaders discussing advancements in biomass utilization and sustainable fuel technologies [23][30] Supporting Units - The event is supported by several academic institutions and associations, including Zhejiang University and various research laboratories focused on biomass materials and technologies [8][6]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses a significant breakthrough in the synthesis of starch from cellulose, which is crucial for food security and industrial applications. The new method achieves a theoretical starch yield of 100%, addressing carbon loss issues and enhancing the potential for industrial-scale production [2][3]. Summary by Sections Breakthrough in Starch Synthesis - The research team led by Zhang Yiheng at the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology has restructured the synthesis pathway to achieve full carbon utilization in starch production from cellulose [3]. - A new glucose recovery and activation mechanism has been designed, increasing the theoretical starch yield from 50% to 100% [3]. - The stability of enzyme components has been improved, allowing the reaction temperature to rise to 50°C, which enhances enzyme activity and reduces the amount of enzyme needed per unit output [3]. Efficiency and Application - The actual conversion rate of cellulose to starch has been raised to 93.3%, producing ultra-pure amylose with a highly controllable polymerization degree and narrow molecular weight distribution [3]. - This ultra-pure amylose has unique applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and materials sectors, including its use as a chiral separation filler for efficiently separating chiral drug molecules like thalidomide [3]. Expert Opinions - Academics have praised the research as a new breakthrough in synthetic biology, highlighting its potential to address food security and non-grain biomass manufacturing [4]. - The work has received support from national key research and development programs and has been published in the National Science Review [4]. Future Events - The article mentions the upcoming NFUCon 2025 forum, which will focus on the high-value utilization of non-grain biomass, featuring discussions on various strategic directions in biomass technology [5][7].

Core Viewpoint - The 2025 Non-Grain Biomass High-Value Utilization Forum (NFUCon 2025) will focus on innovations and commercialization in the non-grain biomass sector, aiming to promote large-scale applications and support carbon neutrality goals [2]. Group 1: Event Overview - NFUCon 2025 will be held from November 27-29, 2025, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, at the Kaiyuan Mingting Hotel [2]. - The theme of the forum is "Gathering Talents from All Directions, Supporting Non-Grain Initiatives" [2]. - The forum is co-hosted by DT New Materials and the National Key Laboratory of Biomass Transportation Fuel Technology [3]. Group 2: Key Topics and Activities - The forum will cover important strategic directions such as biomass green pretreatment, non-grain sugars, biomass-based chemicals and materials, and biomass energy including methanol, fuel ethanol, biogas, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) [2]. - Special activities include a Youth Forum focusing on innovative achievements in the non-grain industry and an SAF industry exchange meeting [5][14]. Group 3: Agenda Highlights - The agenda includes various thematic forums and special sessions on topics like biomass green pretreatment, non-grain sugars, and biomass energy [5][21]. - Notable speakers include academicians and industry leaders from prestigious institutions such as Zhejiang University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences [16][22]. Group 4: Supporting Organizations - Supporting units include Zhejiang University and various research institutes and associations related to polymer science and biomass materials [4]. - Special acknowledgments are given to local government and several companies involved in the biomass sector [4]. Group 5: Participation and Networking - The forum will facilitate technology transfer and networking opportunities for participants, encouraging collaboration between academia, industry, and government [26]. - There will be a call for innovative projects in the biomass utilization field to be showcased during the forum [26].