October 22, 2019
BY Ron Kotrba
Phase Genomics Inc., a biotech provider of proximity-ligation next-generation sequencing solutions for metagenome assembly, is set to receive $325,000 as part of a $73 million funding package from U.S. DOE’s Office Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Phase Genomics said its technology will be leveraged to sequence the genomes of new microorganisms to help detect and manage microbial pests in the creation of algae-based biofuels. “The unique data produced by Phase Genomics will be utilized to track the underlying causes of periods of low productivity and identify novel likely pests and pathogens,” the company stated.
“This funding further recognizes the value of our proprietary metagenomic technology,” said Ivan Liachko, founder and CEO of Phase Genomics. “Discovering the microorganisms responsible for decreasing algal biofuel yield, without culturing, is virtually impossible with traditional genomic methods. Our technology yields deeper insights into the amazingly complex world of environmental microbiology, allowing us to develop improvements in existing industrial processes as well as potentially discovering entirely new ones.”
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Phase Genomics previously announced funding through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop an improved computational method for extracting genomic information from complex microbiome samples.
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The USDA maintained its outlook for 2025-’26 soybean oil use in biofuel production in its latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, released Aug. 12. The forecast for soybean oil prices was also unchanged.
U.S. soybean production for 2025 is forecast at 4.29 billion bushels, down 2% when compared to last year, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service’s latest monthly Crop Production report, released Aug. 12.
As of July 2025, California’s SCFS requires renewable fuel producers using specified source feedstocks to secure attestation letters reaching back to the point of origin. This marks a significant shift in compliance expectations.
At the University of Missouri, plant biochemist Jay Thelen is using arabidopsis as a powerful model to explore ways to boost oil production — an important step toward creating more sustainable, plant-based energy sources.
Iowa farmers have a new market opportunity for their 2025 soybean crop. Landus is expanding its Clean Fuel Regulation initiative, made possible by recent policy changes expected to increase Canada's demand for liquid biofuel.