24 January 2012
Overview
Genomatica has obtained
the exclusive worldwide rights to the
process for the production of BDO from
non-food cellulosic biomass, through any
fermentation-based process, persuant to
a definitive agreement signed with
Beta Renewables
Key point
Integrating Beta Renewable's technology with
Genomatica's direct biological process will result in a
complete, proprietary process for the
second-generation manufacturing of BDO using
non-food cellulosic biomass as feedstock.
Genomatica's process is intended to deliver better
economics and a smaller environmental footprint than
the production of petroleum-based BDO
Use and application of BDO
BDO is an intermediate chemical used in products such as
* athletic apparel,
* running shoes,
* electronics and
* automobiles
About demonstration plant
The companies plan to produce BDO from biomass at
demonstration-scale in 2012 at
Beta Renewable's facility in Rivalta Scrivia, Italy
This announcement builds on a previously announced
strategic partnership between Genomatica and
Gruppo M&G (the majority owner of Beta Renewables)
and strengthens the partnership between the two groups
Beta Renewables is building
the world's largest cellulosic ethanol plant
in Crescentino, Italy.
Beta Renewables designs to use its
process technology to make
sugars from non-food biomass and then
ferment the sugars to make ethanol.
About technology for producing cellulosic sugar
* Beta Renewables has a second-generation technology
for using non-food energy crops or agricultural waste
and turning them into different types of sugary liquids,
and is designed to produce them at a lower cost than
competing approaches.
* These sugars are expected to allow custom organisms
and processes like Genomantica's technology, to make
bio-products with improved economics.
* Beta Renewables's process technology is used to convert
lignocellulose biomass into fermentable sugars, and it will be
used in the world's largest cellulosic ethanol plant in
Crencentino, Italy with operation planned to start in
Mid-2012
Genomatica
* Together we will provide more feedstock flexibility
to the chemical industry and
* a solution to reducing the volatility of
raw material inputs
* We are working to enable chemical industry partners
to produce sustainable chemicals from
conventional sugars, cellulosic biomass or syngas -
all while delivering improved profitability compared to
petrochemical processes, the ability to deploy
smaller-scale plants, and a smaller environmental footprint.
Beta Renewables
* Combining best-in-class technologies, like
Genomatica' BDO process and
Beta Renewables' sugars from biomass process
- and licensing them to companies for their
production facilities
- can drive faster adoption of advanced biofuels
and biochemicals
