Amyris to join Bunge, Cosan in cane bio-chemicals

Reuters
Tue Dec 8, 2009 1:33pm EST

SAO PAULO, Dec 8 (Reuters) - U.S.-based Amyris Biotechnologies said on Tuesday it has signed agreements with Brazilian ethanol makers Cosan (CZZ.N), Bunge (BG.N) and Acucar Guarani (ACGU3.SA) to produce cane-based specialty chemicals and diesel.

Stocks

Amyris has developed a second-generation biofuels technology using microorganisms to turn juice extracted from crushing cane into a biodiesel similar to the mineral-based fossil fuel.

"We'll invest in new production units located in (existing) mills to produce renewable chemicals," said Amyris Chief Executive John Mello on the sidelines of a press conference.

The new facilities will use cane juice from the three existing mills to produce chemicals which can be used in cosmetics, detergents, fuels and lubricants. They have a higher value than simple cane-based ethanol.

Read the full story