Swedish fluid handling, centrifugal and heat transfer company Alfa Laval has won a record order for renewable diesel conversion, Markets Insider reported on 31 May.

German chemical and biotech giant BASF has concluded the sale of its Illinois manufacturing site of vegetable oil-based raw material sterols and natural vitamin E, anionic surfactants and esters, the company announced on 1 June.

Speciality refining firm Vertex Energy has acquired Shell’s Mobile refinery in Alabama, the company announced on 26 May.

UK biotech start-up Holiferm is planning to open its first commercial biosurfactant plant next year, the company announced on 6 May.

Plant-based lipids producer and supplier Bunge Loders Croklaan (BLC) has agreed a lecithin distribution deal with speciality chemicals and ingredients company IMCD, BLC’s parent company Bunge announced on 3 June.

German science and technology company Merck has scaled up its production of lipids to meet demand for their use in COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, the company announced on 26 May.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has agreed to set up an expert panel to review complaints around the European Union (EU)’s decision to ban palm oil-based biofuels, AgriCensus reported on 1 June.

The possibility of a ban on all Belgian milk and dairy products entering Indonesia is gaining traction among leading political figures in the country following Belgium’s proposed palm oil biofuels ban, according to an Indonesian Palm Oil Association blog.

Biotechnology firm AlgaeCytes is planning to build its first commercial algal eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plant in Germany, the company announced on 24 May.

Global agricultural, energy and industrial products company Ceres Global Ag Corp (Ceres) is planning to build a US$350M canola processing plant in Northgate, Saskatchewan, the company announced on 25 May.

Dutch storage company Eurotank Amsterdam (ETA) – part of VTTI – is converting gas oil tanks into storage for biofuels, mixed biofuels and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), VTTI announced on 22 May.

The European Union (EU) has rejected draft legislation which would have imposed new restrictions on descriptions and packaging used by the plant-based dairy sector, FoodBev reported on 26 May.

The European Commission (EC)’s cap on conventional biofuels is “unorthodox” as it deprives farmers of a potential market outside the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Euractiv quoted the head of an EU farmers’ association as saying on 19 May.