Companies that include Amyris, BASF, BioChemtex, BP, Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira, Dow Chemical, DSM, DuPont, GranBio, Novozymes, Raizen and Rhodia have joined forces to form the Brazilian Industrial Biotechnology Association (Associação Brasileira de Biotecnologia Industrial or ABBI) with a primary objective of fostering a dialogue within Brazilian society about the advancements of industrial biotechnology in Brazil.
ABBI is also seeking to promote a dialogue with stakeholders and policymakers to improve Brazil’s biotechnology regulations and update current legislation in light of technological advances of the past several years. The group supports additional investments in research and development, capacity and training for skilled and technical labor, and laboratory infrastructure. The trade group also aims to become a channel to share knowledge through collaboration among industry and academic institutions in Brazil and beyond.
Here is a video of the ABBI launch although it is in Portuguese. You can turn on the caption (CC) located on the bottom bar on the right side although be warned that the translation to English is not too accurate.
Here is a rough list of renewable chemical projects in Brazil using sugarcane for feedstock. These names are on top of my head now but feel free to comment on who else I forgot or if I made a boo-boo on this list.
Companies Product
Amyris Farnesene and other building blocks
BASF Bioplastic; sugar feedstock; partnership with Amyris on building blocks
BioChemtex Bio-Ethanol
BP Bio-Ethanol
Braskem Bio-PE, bio-PP, bio-butadiene
Dow/Mitsui Sugar feedstock; bio-ethanol (Bio-PE postponed)
DSM Bio-Ethanol
DuPont Bio-Ethanol
Genomatica Bio-butadiene partnership with Braskem
GranBio Bio-Ethanol, bio-Butanol
JBF Industries Bio-MEG (postponed)
Kuraray Bio-based liquid rubber partnership with Amyris
Lanxess Bio-EPDM (bio-ethylene supply from Braskem)
Novozymes Bio-PP, bio-ethanol
Petrobras Bio-Ethanol
Raizen Bio-Ethanol
Rhodia Bio-Butanol
Solazyme Algae oils
BNDES, the Brazilian Development Bank, who has already invested R$1.2 billion (US $540m) in biotechnology projects in Brazil, is going to talk about investment opportunities in Brazil (Track 6, Session 2) at the incoming BIO World Congress in Philadelphia. Line up on that track also includes UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) and GranBio.
By the way, me and my colleague, Philippa Davies, at Tecnon OrbiChem will also moderate two sessions at BIO World Congress. See our schedules below:
Track 6 Session 1: Development of Palm Based Biorefinery
May 13, 8:30-10am
Moderator: Doris de Guzman
Speakers: Azli Razali, Sime Darby
Razwin Sulairee Hasnan Termizi, BiotechCorp
Pathmanathan Arumugam, Malaysian Bio-Xcell
Rose Pun, POIC Sabah
Track 3 Session 2: Designing Biobased products with Enhanced Performance
May 13, 10:30-12pm
Moderator: Philippa Davies
Speakers: Nathan Kemeling, Avantium
Paul Caswell, Cathay Biotech
David Fenn, PPG Industries
Mike Schultheis, The Coca-Cola Company
Track 3 Session 4: Bringing Renewable Elastomers to Market
May 14, 2:30-4pm
Moderator: Doris de Guzman
Speakers: Damien Perriman, Genomatica
Alexandre Elias, Braskem
Jason Voogt, Amyris
Jeff Martin, Yulex
For those who are attending, see you there!!
