US ethanol plant to use modified grain gene process

The North American branch of biotechnology company Syngenta has signed a commercial agreement with a Kansas ethanol plant.

The agreement will see Bonanza Bioenergy use grain featuring Enogen trait technology which allows corn to express a robust form of alpha amylase enzyme, the primary enzyme used in dry grind ethanol production to convert starch to sugars.

Enogen eliminates the need to utilize liquid alpha amylase enzyme in dry grind ethanol production by delivering alpha amylase enzyme in the grain.

‘This technology is available at a critical time for the ethanol industry as margins are tightening,’ says David Witherspoon, head of renewable fuels for Syngenta. ‘By working across broad ranges of temperature and pH levels, Enogen corn creates flexibility for ethanol plants that helps them capture increased levels of throughput or cost savings based on market conditions.’

Bonanza Bioenergy, a member of Conestoga Energy Partners, completed a successful three month trial of Enogen grain in July. The positive results from that trial led the ethanol plant to sign this commercial agreement.