Syngenta and QUT Start Research on Producing Ethanol from Biomass

Syngenta Inc. announced a research collaboration in Australia that will focus on the development of cost effective methods of producing biofuels from sugarcane biomass. The lignocellulose from bagasse, a by-product of sugarcane juice extraction, will be processed to bioethanol using plant-expressed enzymes. Cellulosic ethanol was found to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent over reformulated gasoline.

The research partners include the agbiotech company Farmacule Bioindustries, the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), where a new Syngenta Center for Sugarcane Biofuel Development will be established, and Queensland University’s tech-transfer and commercialization company Qutbluebox. Under the agreement, Syngenta will be given exclusive marketing rights for the products excluding Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, where the rights will be held by QUT and Farmacule. Syngenta can also use the developed technologies to other crops. The Queensland Government will invest a reported AUD 5.1 million for the establishment of the sugarcane biofuel center and development of other biocommodities pilot plant.

For the press release visit http://www.syngenta.com/NR/rdonlyres/1A44EE1F-BDCE-46C1-9343-09DB84354F74/3697/Syngenta_starts_research_partnership_in_Australia_.pdf