The company is now safely emerged from its celebrated IPO, and is embarked on the construction of the first commercial plant with its JV partner BASF — so, it’s a monster year for Avantium. Avantium’s YXY technology converts plant-based sugar into chemicals and plastics, including 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, a precursor to the promising bioplastic polyethylene furanoate. […]
Electrics are improving on emissions and cost, but not enough to make driving an electric car the smart choice for consumers looking to save time and reduce environmental impacts. According to a new analysis, biofuels still reign. If you’re driving an electric car, you’re driving the grid, and the grid isn’t all that green, yet. […]
Novozymes is a world leader in biological solutions. Together with customers, partners and the global community, the company supplies innovations to the world’s leading companies across 40 markets. Our solutions improve the sustainability performance of our customers and partners — best known for industrial enzymes, the company is highly active also in agriculture, biomass conversion, […]
By Lorenz Bauer and Charles Loos, Lee Enterprises Consulting Special to The Digest Investing in new bio-economy technologies involves the inherent perils associated with building new plants and introducing new products into existing markets. However, one avoidable peril is basing decisions on poorly planned research and development programs. An outside evaluation of the experimental plan […]
By Terry Mazanec, Bob Kodrzycki, and Lorenz Bauer, Lee Enterprises Consulting Special to The Digest (Note: This is Part 5 of an 11-part series. Part 1 is here. Part 2 is here. Part 3 is here. Part 4 is here.) What are: Ali vs Frazier, Red Sox vs Yankees, and Gevo vs Butamax? If you said […]
Codexis is a leading protein engineering company that applies its technology to the development of biocatalysts for the commercial manufacture of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. Codexis’ proven technology enables implementation of biocatalytic solutions to meet customer needs for rapid, cost-effective and sustainable manufacturing. This illuminating presentation looks at the company’s progress promise, and most recent […]
Summer has now given way to fall — and what was supposed to be biotechnology’s sleepiest season turned out to be a monster, and fascinating too. Here are the top 12 companies raising capital and making huge deals and advances this season. #12. Descartes Labs. In August, we reported that Descartes Labs raised $30M in […]
Pacific Ethanol was founded in 2003 as the first pure-play ethanol company and today is a leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels with 9 strategically located bio-refineries in the U.S., production capacity of 605M gallons/yr., a current run rate of 1B gallons/yr. of marketing volume, and co-product production capacity of over 1.5M tons/yr. (on a […]
By Lorenz Bauer, Gerald Kutney and Bob Kodrzycki, Lee Enterprises Consulting Special to The Digest (Note: This is Part 4 of an 11-part series. Part 1 is here. Part 2 is here. Part 3 is here.) Investors focused on renewable chemicals and fuels are looking for projects with the greatest commercial potential. However, within the plethora […]
By Gerald Kutney and Bob Kodrzycki, Lee Enterprises Consulting Special to The Digest (Note: This is Part 3 of an 11-part series. Part 1 is here. Part 2 is here.) A business plan contains basically only two major subjects: The business case for the investment: ROI and pro forma Risk management. Keep in mind that […]
