First batch of commercial biofene made by Amyris

US-based renewable fuels and chemicals company Amyris has shipped its first load of biofene from its new plant in Brazil.

The facility represents Amyris’ first purpose-built industrial fermentation plant which produces farnesene from sugarcane to create the biofene.

‘This initial shipment marks the successful completion of our start-up activities. We have operated multiple tanks without contamination or surprises through several production runs during the first month of operation,’ says Amyris CEO John Melo.

‘We are now focused on ramping up biofene production and delivering product to customers, like renewable diesel for bus fleets in Brazil and squalane emollient to the global cosmestic industry for example.’

Amyris's biofene plant is situated in São Paulo and sources its sugarcane feedstock locally from the nearby Paraíso mill.