EdeniQ Licenses Yeast Technology from USDA

EdeniQ, Inc. announced yesterday that it has licensed yeast technology from the USDA Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) associated with the fermentation of C5 sugars, such as xylose, to ethanol.  The license marks the culmination of the 3-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between FPL and EdeniQ.  EdeniQ plans to evaluate the yeast technology which will be showcased in EdeniQ's DOE-funded, 2 ton per day cellulosic ethanol pilot plant, which is currently under construction and scheduled for startup in Q1 2012. The two groups have also agreed to continue their R&D collaboration in yeasts under a new two-year CRADA.

"We have been pleased by the fruitful cooperation between our scientists and FPL, and its continuation under the new CRADA," said Dr. Thomas Griffin, Vice President, Technology at EdeniQ.  "The FPL technology for fermenting C5 sugars is synergistic with our current C6 yeasts and complements our integrated technology package."  

"This technology represents an important breakthrough in improving the conversion of C5 sugars to ethanol," added Dr. Thomas Jeffries, FPL's Principal Investigator and leader of the FPL team.  "We look forward to the continuing partnership with EdeniQ to enhance and commercialize these yeasts."

The USDA Forest Products Labs operates in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation the private, nonprofit patent and licensing organization for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, acted as licensor on behalf of FPL and the University.