Amyris ships first truckload of renewable farnesene (Biofene) from new Brazil plant

1 February 2013

Renewable chemicals and fuels company Amyris, Inc. announced the first commercial shipment from its new plant in Brazil. Amyris’s first purpose-built industrial fermentation facility produces Biofene, Amyris’s brand of renewable farnesene, to be used in a range of specialty chemical and fuel applications.

This initial shipment marks the successful completion of our start-up activities. We have operated multiple tanks without contamination or surprises through several production runs during the first month of operation. We are now focused on ramping up Biofene production and delivering product to our customers, from renewable diesel for bus fleets in Brazil to squalane emollient globally and soon a range of specialty chemical applications.

—John Melo, President and CEO of Amyris

Amyris’s Biofene plant in Brotas, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, sources its sugarcane feedstock locally from the Paraíso mill. Prior to the start-up of this facility, Amyris relied solely on contract manufacturing for commercial production.

Amyris will report financial results for the fourth quarter 2012 and provide a business update on 19 February 2013, after the close of market.

Amyris uses its industrial synthetic biology platform to convert plant sugars into a variety of hydrocarbon molecules. Amyris’ initial portfolio of commercial products is based on Biofene.