Yes, it has been awhile since I last blogged but no apologies here as I had a good time off visiting my hometown in the Philippines the past two weeks (despite working on my newsletter while there as well). It’s now back to the grinders for me and here’s an interesting news from Amyris about its … Continue reading
I am currently in Dubrovnik, Croatia, covering the ICIS Oleochemicals conference, which is about to end soon. If anybody is interested in learning more about oleochemicals and pine chemicals market, I suggest attending the incoming INFOCAST Bio-based Chemicals Summit in January in San Diego where I will be moderating a panel composed of experts in … Continue reading
Maybe biopharma is a better bet these days than industrial renewable chemicals (especially drop-ins) with Codexis seems to be thriving on its new biopharma ground after leaving the biofuels and renewable chems market, and Amyris recently launched its”uPharm (microPharm) Discovery and Production platform. Amyris’s new platform provides the pharmaceutical industry with an integrated discovery and … Continue reading
Despite the current water shortage (due to drought) and electricity problems in Brazil, Amyris seems to be doing well according to the company’s third quarter earnings report. Amyris said its Brotas biorefinery plant in Brazil has been running for 3 months without any unscheduled interruptions. The company expects to continue operations until the sugarcane season … Continue reading
This year’s Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Winners awarded by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) included Solazyme and Amyris. Solazyme won the 2014 Greener Synthetic Pathways Award for its microalgal fermentation-based tailored oils. Solazyme’s engineered microalgae can produce oils tailored to customers’ needs that can mimic or enhance properties of traditional vegetable oils (or animal … Continue reading
Synthetic biology company, Intrexon Corporation, says its Industrial Products Division has achieved the bioconversion of methane to farnesene in the lab. Farnesene is a key building block chemical for diesel fuel, and also for other lubricants and specialty products, including cosmetics, rubber, and plastics. This is the second product, following isobutanol, which Intrexon has upgraded … Continue reading
Amyris has begun selling Biofene®, Amyris’s brand of farnesene, a long-chain branched hydrocarbon, online at farnesene.net. By making initial quantities of its building block molecule available to a broader audience, Amyris seeks to expand Biofene’s use beyond the commercial applications the Company and its partners are already developing. Amyris is now selling Biofene through its … Continue reading
Amyris is entering a collaborative research and development agreement with BASF where Amyris will use its strain engineering technology to develop a microorganism capable of producing a target molecule by BASF. The companies expect to further collaborate on a strain development program and consider other joint research and development opportunities based on the success of … Continue reading
My apologies for the lack of posts (again) as I have been busy working on getting information for the Bio-Materials newsletter before folks from around the world start their holiday events. However, let me post this one from Amyris’ recent announcement on its joint venture formation with its largest investor, French oil firm, Total. Yesterday, … Continue reading
Good news for Amyris investors. Last week, the company announced that its farnesene plant in Sao Paulo, Brazil has achieved production rate of 1m liters over a 45-day period. Amyris said it is on track to achieve its year-end cost targets with all of its six fermentors running at the ongoing production rate. The Brotas … Continue reading