NEMO, an acronym for Novel high performance enzymes and microorganisms for conversion of lignocellulosic biomass bioethanol project, has been recently launched by the European Commission (EC). As the name of the project implies, research initiatives will be focused on the generation of new ways of converting agricultural and forestry waste, such as straw and wood chips into liquid biofuels. This biofuel strategy is more acceptable to consumers and environmentalists since the biofuel feedstocks are from non-food sources and emits lesser greenhouse gases.

The four-year project is a partnership of 18 entities including universities, research institutes and companies producing enzymes, ethanol and chemicals from nine European countries (Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland). Professor Merja Penttila of VTT Technical research Center of Finland coordinates the project's activities which is funded by the ‘Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology' theme of the Seventh Framework Program of the EC.

See the article at: http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=EN_NEWS_FP7&ACTION=D&DOC=7&CAT=NEWS&QUERY=01237eb65643:9804:382af0a0&RCN=31177.