Firm’s microbial technology will be used to help advance country’s palm-oil industry.
Glycos Biotechnologies (GlycosBio), a biochemical company focused on metabolic engineering and microbiology innovations for the production of sustainable biochemicals, inked an agreement with Bio-XCell for assistance with construction of its biochemical plant and biotechnology R&D facility within Bio-XCell’s industrial park in Malaysia.
Construction of the plant will begin in Q3 2010 with an expected completion date in early 2012. In addition to the partnership with Bio-XCell, GlycosBio will also work closely with the Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation, the national agency set up by the Malaysian government for the development of biotechnology in Malaysia.
“We see the palm-oil industry as being a long-term source of renewable feedstocks, which directly align with our technology,” says Walt Burnap, president of Glycos Biotechnologies. “Using GlycosBio’s microbial strains and related downstream engineering processes will allow the Malaysian palm-oil industry to meet the market demands of the 21st century.”
“As the biggest producer and exporter of palm oil and having one of the largest oleochemical industries in the world, Malaysia is aggressively seeking alternative approaches to ensuring more sustainable production methods,” explains Dato’ Iskandar Mizal Mahmood, CEO of BiotechCorp and chairman of Bio-XCell. “Our partnership with GlycosBio supports Malaysia’s interest in developing and creating new business opportunities for international companies focused on advanced biotechnology. By implementing technology from biochemical and biotechnology companies like GlycosBio, palm-oil and oleochemical producers will be able to convert lower-value product streams into renewable feedstocks that can then be used to produce greener, more valuable biochemicals.”
GlycosBio’s technology facilitates the metabolic engineering of microbial strains to consume multiple nonsugar-based, low-value feedstocks for the production of sustainable chemicals and advanced ethanol. By designing differentiated microorganisms, GlycosBio’s bioconversion technology reportedly lowers production cost and provides a nonfood energy balance savings to the chemical and biofuel industries.
