The Brazilian-based sugarcane ethanol producer, Cosan, has agreed to work with renewable products producer Amyris Inc. to commercialize Amyris' farnesene. In October, Amyris filed for a $100 million IPO and was able to close at $84.8 million. After terms for a joint venture were initially made with Cosan in June, Amyris is now one step closer to putting the company’s genetically modified microorganism to use in Brazil.

The plan for the partnership is to utilize Cosan’s access to sugarcane feedstock. Using the sugarcane, Amyris will apply their synthetic biology platform used to make hydrocarbon molecules that can then be converted to biobased chemicals. The microorganisms can modify yeast, and the goal is to produce base oils from the plant sugar sources by altering the yeast used in the fermentation of cane syrup to make a farnesene product the California-based company calls Biofene. The Biofene high-end oils are designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions along with smoke and odor, and according to Amyris, perform well in cold weather due to high-performance viscosity levels.

Both parties agree that the joint venture shows the ability of Amyris-based products, and the expanded reach each participating company will now have into new markets. “The joint venture demonstrates our ability to reach into large, established markets with a paradigm-changing renewable product and a near-term commercialization outlook,” according to John Melo, CEO of Amyris. Marcos Lutz, CEO for Cosan said Amyris’ technology can “greatly expand the range and value of products” that the Brazilian-based company can derive from sugarcane, and “improve Cosan’s portfolio outside of the Cosan/Shell joint venture.”

The Cosan/Shell joint venture, a $12 billion endeavor aimed at expanding and commercializing sugarcane-based ethanol produced by Cosan, was signed in August and is awaiting regulatory approval. According to Shell, the joint-venture would allow both parties to establish a position in sustainable biofuels, “one of the most realistic commercial solutions to take carbon out of the transport fuels sector over the next 20 years.” The Biofene produced by Amyris reduces GHG emissions by 80 percent when compared with petroleum-sourced base oils.