Clean fuels from biotechnology

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Scaling up use of biomass to meet global demands
for clean fuels

Codexis biosolutions can transform plant waste into profits. Our enzymes and microorganisms provide the biofuels industry with an alternative to their traditional supply chain and a cost effective, renewable replacement for gasoline.

Codexis has the potential to transform sustainable ethanol production and help reduce reliance on fossil fuels. To develop the next generation of advanced liquid transportation fuels, Codexis is partnered with Shell, the world's largest biofuels distributor.

In 2011, Shell and Cosan, the largest producer of sugar in Brazil, formed the joint venture Raízen, creating Brazil's largest sugar and ethanol producer. Raízen produces 2 billion liters of ethanol annually from 24 production plants, and has 4,500 fuel stations throughout the country. The Brazilian government estimates that ethanol production in Brazil - currently more than 6 billion gallons per year -- needs to double in the next decade to meet domestic demand.

Codexis and Raízen have formed a collaboration to improve performance economics of ethanol made from sugar. The Codexis CodeEvolver™ directed evolution technology platform will be deployed to improve ethanol yield without significant infrastructure investment.

The collaboration will focus on a range of targets including improving the performance of yeasts now used in ethanol production. It may also include development of other products from sugar such as biobased chemicals.