Biofuels and Bioenergy

Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in life sciences and materials sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM and its associated companies deliver annual net sales of about €10 billion with approximately 25,000 employees. DSM’s biotechnology cluster roots back to 1869 when Jacques C. van Marken, an innovative businessman believing in science, founded NG&SF (Dutch Yeast & Spirits Factory) to produce baker’s yeast and potable alcohol. Since 2014 DSM is, via its joint venture POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, again involved in ethanol production. The joint venture operates a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Project LIBERTY has a 20-25 million gallon capacity and is currently ramping up production. The role of DSM’s advanced cellulosic enzyme cocktails and yeasts is to enable the bio-ethanol industry to diversify from starch crops to lignocellulosic agricultural residues. DSM has

developed robust enzyme cocktails and yeasts to reach the ambitious ethanol cost reduction targets. This presentation will highlight how combined efforts in enzyme discovery, yeast fermentation and application process development were used to make lignocellulosic bioethanol a commercial reality.