For Immediate Release
International Sugar Organization Spotlights Near-Term Potential for Genomatica’s BDO Process in First Industrial Bio-products Report
Leading intergovernmental body finds cost advantage in Genomatica’s direct, sugar-based conversion process addressing large, global chemical markets
SAN DIEGO, January 21, 2010 – Genomatica, a sustainable chemicals company, announced today that its technology platform was evaluated by the International Sugar Organization (ISO) in its first industrial bio-products market study. The 54-page report, “Market Potential of Sugarcane and Beet Bio-products,” charts new territory in sugarcane and beet market analysis by focusing on the emerging opportunity for sugar-derived chemicals, polymers and bioplastics.
As oil prices climb and energy legislation intensifies, the report concludes that sugar-derived bio-products are becoming more competitive with their traditional, petroleum-based counterparts. The report also describes the ample worldwide capacity for sugarcane and beet crop growers to supply sugar for new applications such as bio-products.
Genomatica’s sugar-based process for producing 1,4 butanediol (BDO), a chemical intermediate found in performance apparel, automotive parts and electronics, is presented in a section titled “Biobased Chemicals” as a promising technology. Aside from bio-polyethylene, which the ISO identifies as a key bioplastics opportunity, the report finds that of all chemicals studied BDO has “the best potential in the near term.”
The ISO compares the market potential of bio-based BDO with other chemicals like bio-based succinic acid. It finds that BDO’s large market size, combined with Genomatica’s process to produce the chemical directly from sugar, gives bio-based BDO several advantages over bio-based succinic acid, which has a significantly smaller market and subsequently requires additional conversion to create chemicals such as BDO, with yield losses and cost increases in the process. “Genomatica’s innovative platform allows the company to pursue the most important and profitable chemicals in the global market,” concludes the study.
The full report can be ordered by contacting publications@isosugar.org .
About The International Sugar Organization
The International Sugar Organization (ISO) is the unique intergovernmental body devoted to improving conditions on the world's sugar market through debate, analysis, special studies, transparent statistics, seminars, conferences and workshops. More at www.isosugar.org/
About Genomatica
Chemicals are essential to all major industries and make up the world in which we live. Genomatica is a sustainable chemicals company developing groundbreaking technologies to transform chemical production processes through bio-manufacturing. With a proven, proprietary technology platform, Genomatica is creating a robust pipeline of bio-manufacturing processes that targets chemicals with large existing markets. These processes are aimed to compete head-on with current petrochemical processes, delivering compelling cost advantages and sustainability through renewable feedstock sourcing and less energy intensive processes.
A privately held company, Genomatica is backed by top Silicon Valley venture capital firms Mohr Davidow Ventures, Alloy Ventures and Draper Fisher Jurvetson. Genomatica is based in San Diego. More at http://genomatica.com/ .
For more information:
Emily Douglas
Genomatica
10520 Wateridge Circle
San Diego, CA 92121
emily.douglas@edelman.com
650-762-2945 phone
858-824-1772 fax