In San Diego, BASF has sold its Spartec bioenergy enzyme portfolio to Lallemand subsidiaries Danstar Ferment AG and Lallemand Specialties Inc. Terms of the deal, which also includes related technologies in development, were not disclosed.
Business activities and associated employees were transferred to Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits on June 1. LBDS, a leading global supplier of fermentation ingredients and technical solutions, has worked with BASF’s bioenergy business since 2017, jointly developing the expression of gluco and alpha amylase enzymes in bioengineered yeast. The yeast are now widely used in the North American ethanol production market.
“Lallemand is the best owner for the bioenergy enzymes business,” Daniel Wilms, Vice President Strategy, Innovation & Sustainability at BASF’s Nutrition & Health division, said in a press statement. “Their dedication to the biofuel industry, along with their complementary portfolio and global presence, will create new opportunities for growth.”
BASF is retaining its enzyme activities in the animal feed and detergents markets. It will continue to provide agronomic solutions for farmers to produce low-carbon intensity crops for the bioenergy industry.