Amyris expands Brazil operations

Amyris Inc. said it has signed an agreement with cane processor Paraiso Bioenergia that will boost its production capacity in Brazil. The California-based Amyris will build a fermentation and separation facility for the production of cane-based specialty chemicals, while Paraiso will supply juice from up to 1 million tons of sugar cane per year. The plant is expected to stream in 2012. The partnership with Paraiso is for the production of a renewable farnesene, a building block for the production of cosmetics, polymer additives, lubricants, consumer packaged goods and cane diesel. (March 23,2011)