Blazing for trail

BBGI plans to test the Thai market with a sweetener made from stevia, a sugar substitute obtained from plants. BBGI Plc, the biotechnology arm of energy conglomerate Bangchak Corporation Plc, aims to be among Thailand's pioneers in the development of new products in the growing "synbio" sector. Synbio is an abbreviation of synthetic biology, a field of science that involves redesigning organisms, notably microbes, for specific purposes by engineering them to have new abilities. The field is expected to be a new economic driver, in line with the bio-economy, part of the state-promoted bio-, circular and green (BCG) economic development scheme. Bio-economy emphasises sustainable production by converting renewable resources into value-added products, ranging from food and feed to energy. Seeing new business opportunities in the synbio field, BBGI, which is a joint venture between Bangchak and ethanol manufacturer Khon Kaen Sugar Industry Plc, is cooperating with a US-based … [Read more...] about BBGI aims to blaze a trail in the synbio sector

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 14 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's governor said Tuesday that given the ferocity and swift movements of a record-setting wildfire burning in the northeastern part of the state, the damage will be significant with estimates of burned homes and other structures likely to range between 1,000 and 1,500. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham stressed that was only a rough estimate but likely not an exaggeration, saying it's clear to state and federal officials that there are many victims who have lost their homes and have had their businesses affected. “And their families are suffering,” the governor said during a news conference with Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell and top state officials. “And that's my takeaway, the number of families that we have to help.” The fire has charred more than 468 … [Read more...] about New Mexico fires prompt forest closures; governor seeks aid

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 12 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — More than 2,000 firefighters battling the largest U.S. wildfire dug back-up fire lines and rearranged fire engines around homes in northeast New Mexico on Wednesday in anticipation of a return to windy, dangerous conditions in the days ahead. After a break in the weather allowed for significant progress on the ground and from the air in recent days, forecasters issued warnings for high fire danger from southern Nevada through parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado starting Thursday. “The next three days are going to be the giddy-up days,” fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns said Wednesday. “Crews are out there working as hard as they can to get in line as quickly as possible,” he said during an afternoon briefing at the fire east of Santa Fe stretching northeast toward Taos. Most of the large … [Read more...] about Crews slow New Mexico fires, brace for dangerous conditions