Amyris commissions third farnesene plant

U.S.-based Amyris, Inc. has commissioned a third Biofene plant in Decatur, Illinois, U.S.A., at a facility owned by Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas, Inc., an affiliate of Tate & Lyle PLC. Biofene is a renewable farnesene. “Our third commercial facility, our first in the U.S., will help us ramp up Biofene production volume to meet the strong worldwide demand we expect for our renewable products,” said John Melo, CEO. “Commissioning this facility is also an affirmation of our commitment to developing manufacturing capacity in the U.S. and supporting job creation in the Midwest” he said. Amyris plans to sell Biofene directly for use in industrial applications or to apply simple chemical finishing steps to Biofene to form a broad range of renewable products, including squalane, lubricating base oil and diesel fuel. (August 18, 2011)