Green Chemicals Blog
biotechnology
Solvay collaborates with Ginkgo Bioworks
This is a piece of interesting news from Solvay on the recent announcement of its collaboration with synthetic biology company Ginkgo Bioworks on the development of sustainable biopolymers as well as other specialty chemicals and materials that can be used from home and personal care to agriculture and food. As part of this partnership, Solvay … Continue reading
BOLD biomanufacturing and biotech goals in the USA
The recently-held Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference (ABLC) held in Washington, DC, on 22-24 March saw the convergence of different US agencies – Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Commerce, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) – with very bold targets below for the next … Continue reading
It’s the holiday season for US renewable chemicals
While the renewable chemicals industry continues to play second fiddle to biofuels when it comes to US government funding (it’s true!), the Biden Administration’s actions towards boosting the bioeconomy are setting off a flurry of activities on how renewable chemicals companies can dip in to these bioeconomy-related funding initiatives. Just yesterday, the White House Office … Continue reading
USA launches National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative
I just came back from a 10-day holiday off (the longest vacation time I’ve had in years), and I promised myself not to check my emails, not to blog and not to check any work-related social media. It was tough initially, but I had a great time off exploring the Canadian Maritimes. One interesting trip … Continue reading
Ginkgo on a buying spree, acquires Zymergen
Synthetic biology company Ginkgo Bioworks announced today that it plans to acquire Zymergen in an all-stock transaction valued at $300 million in market capitalisation. Zymergen stockholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 0.9179 Ginkgo shares for each Zymergen share, representing 5.25% pro forma ownership of Ginkgo following the transaction. The agreement represents Ginkgo’s largest … Continue reading
Solvay launches Renewable Materials and Biotech Growth Platform
Solvay recently announced the launch of its new Renewable Materials and Biotechnology platform, dedicated to developing innovative and sustainable solutions for a range of markets, using renewable feedstocks and biotechnology. I’ve covered Solvay once in a while and I also remember its collaboration (via Rhodia) on bio-based n-butanol with Brazil-based Granbio. Back in 2015, the … Continue reading
Agile BioFoundry Selects New Biotech Collaborations
I’m always on the lookout for new companies in the renewable chemicals/materials industry and one of the ways to do this is keeping tabs on grants and funding from the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologiees Office (BETO). The department’s Agile BioFoundry Consortium (ABF), a consortium of national laboratories dedicated to accelerating biomanufacturing and … Continue reading
Amyris launches squalene-based hand sanitizer
I am trying to contain my shopping addiction nowadays with just the occasional hunt for necessities like wearable masks and gloves, disinfecting cleaners and sprays, antibacterial soaps, and hand sanitizers, among other ‘fight COVID-19’ essentials. Thankfully toilet paper, wipes and paper towels are plentiful in my neighbourhood. Yes, I also gave in to buying a … Continue reading
Ginkgo commits $25M for COVID-19 projects
Synthetic biology company Ginkgo Bioworks announced its $25 million commitment for free access to its platform in the development of a long-term solution to the COVID-19 crisis. Companies building treatments that can stop COVID-19 can now avail of Ginkgo’s services: For the manufacturing of nucleic acid-based vaccines: Provide process development capacity with Ginkgo’s large bank of … Continue reading
Alternative protein market gets investment boosts
Calysta announced a $30 million investment from BP Ventures to support a worldwide rollout of Calysta’s FeedKind® protein, which is already being produced from the company’s Market Introduction Facility (MIF) in Teesside, England. The investment will help Calysta expand production of its sustainable single-cell protein, which is produced through a proprietary, commercially-validated gas fermentation process … Continue reading