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Eliot Herman's
Laboratory |
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DONALD
DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER AND
GEOSYNFUELS, LLC
FORM JOINT VENTURE |
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ST. LOUIS, MO, June 12, 2009
- The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
and GeoSynFuels, LLC (GSF) today announced
the formation of a joint venture to produce
low cost proteins such as enzymes,
pharmaceuticals, and components for animal
feeds. The joint venture, Agrius BioForms
LLC (ABF), plans to commercialize a
proprietary protein production system
developed by Danforth Center and U.S.
Department of Agriculture scientists, Drs.
Eliot Herman and Monica Schmidt. Initial
activities will focus on the production of
enzymes for GSF's cellulosic biofuels
process, with further uses for the
technology targeted in the future.
"The partnership between the Danforth
Center, the USDA and GeoSynFuels to
commercialize scientific discovery is an
important next step in the process of
sharing the benefits of scientific discovery
in a way that will have wide public
benefits," said Dr. Roger Beachy, President
of the Danforth Plant Science Center.
The management of ABF brings together a
breadth of knowledge tailored to the
development and commercialization of
technologies, with extensive experience in
product development, intellectual property
management, and entrepreneurial business
administration. The new venture will be led
by Dr. J. Todd Harvey, CEO of GeoSynFuels,
who will serve as the CEO of Agrius BioForms,
and governed, by a Board of Directors with
representatives from GSF and the Danforth
Center. Dr. Harvey announced: "We look
forward to working with the world class Danforth Center organization and creating a
new paradigm between plant science and
biofuels."
The advantage of ABF's technology resides in
using the soybean seed and other
high-protein-content seeds as protein
production platforms. Soybean seeds can
produce and store proteins at high levels,
and Drs. Herman and Schmidt have developed a
method to produce novel proteins in large
amounts within the seeds. ABF's technology
will use the seed as a protein "biofactory"
and is expected to reduce the complexity and
cost of industrial protein production
significantly.
The development of ABF's technology is
projected to reduce further the low cost of
GSF's cellulosic biofuels process and
improve GSF's ability to compete in the $1.5
trillion global transportation fuel market.
At present, the high cost of enzymes to
convert biomass to biofuels is a major
barrier to expansion of the industry. ABF's
technology has the potential to produce
low-cost, high-efficacy biofuel enzymes and
assist cellulosic biofuels in improving US
energy security, reducing greenhouse gas
emissions while creating tens of thousands
of new "green collar" jobs.
U.S. Senator Kit Bond played a significant
role in the process. It was under his
leadership in 2002 that the Missouri
delegation worked for passage of legislation
to obtain funds to locate the USDA lab and
Dr. Herman at the Danforth Center. With this
move, the USDA recognized the value of a
creating a partnership with a new cutting
edge research institute.
In addition, the underlying technology of
the joint venture was refined during a two
year period using funds included in the 2006
agriculture appropriations bill championed
by the Senator. These funds supported one of
the co-inventors, Dr. Monica Schmidt, as an
Assistant Research Member in the laboratory
of Dr. Eliot Herman. Dr. Herman has since
joined the Danforth Center as a Member and
Principal Investigator.
"The technology created by this innovative
partnership has the potential to provide us
with clean and sustainable energy supplies,"
said U.S. Senator Kit Bond. "It is critical
that we continue to invest in life sciences
research, an industry that holds amazing
promise for uncovering new homegrown energy
solutions, improving human health, and
enhancing agriculture production and
nutrition around the world."
"Kit Bond has been a great champion for
plant and agricultural science. He saw the
promise and the commercial potential way
ahead of most others. We have much to thank
him for," said Dr. William H. Danforth,
chairman of the Donald Danforth plant
Science Center.
About GeoSynFuels, LLC
GeoSynFuels, LLC, based in Golden, Colorado,
is focused on the development of proprietary
low cost processes for the production of
advanced biofuels using renewable feedstocks.
About The Donald Danforth Plant Science
Center
Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant
Science Center is a not-for-profit research
institute with a mission to improve the
human condition through plant science.
Research at the Danforth Center will feed
the hungry and improve human health,
preserve and renew the environment, and
enhance the St. Louis region and Missouri as
a world center for plant science. Please
visit
www.danforthcenter.org for additional
information.
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