MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota, in collaboration with members of
Minnesota's biobased chemicals industry, hosted Minnesota Lieutenant
Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon and key state agency commissioners on a
tour of some of the state's most highly-valued industry companies
yesterday. Representatives of NatureWorks LLC, BioAmber, Reluceo,
XLTerra and Segetis shared their perspectives on how they are growing
their businesses and how the state might assist in accelerating and
supporting the advancement of this rapidly developing industry.
"Due to increasing global demand for alternatives to petroleum products,
the biobased chemical industry is on the cusp of extreme growth," said
Shaye Mandle, vice president of government and affiliate relations at
LifeScience Alley. "By involving Minnesota's policy leaders today and
keeping them engaged in the future, we can ensure that they continue to
be great partners to keep this industry growing in our state."
"Minnesota's geography, skilled workforce, excellent educational
institutions, established industrial sector, and natural resources make
our state an ideal location to start and grow biobased chemical
businesses and jobs," said Lieutenant Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon.
"It is important for private and public institutions at the federal,
state and local level to foster efforts to invent and build the biobased
products and jobs of tomorrow in Minnesota."
The five companies included in yesterday's tour and presentation all
specialize in the creation and production of biobased chemicals, which
can replace petroleum-based chemicals in a number of scientific,
industrial and consumer product applications. The individual chemicals
are derived from renewable feedstocks and in many cases are produced
more efficiently and at a lower cost than their petroleum-based
alternatives.
"Companies that specialize in bio-based chemicals show great promise for
creating jobs and contributing to the growth of the state economy," said
Mark Phillips, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment
and Economic Development. "We're committed to supporting the commercial
development of companies like those that we visited today."
About LifeScience Alley and The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota
LifeScience
Alley, the largest state Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
affiliate, and The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota are committed to
strengthening the regional economy by assisting in the growth of
established and emerging industries, and attracting new companies,
talent, and capital. Together, the organizations actively support
commercialization and adoption of advanced technologies that will
develop a healthy, vibrant bio-based economy through advocacy,
education, and authoritative research. www.LifeScienceAlley.org
or www.BioBusinessAlliance.org
About NatureWorks LLC
NatureWorks LLC is an independent
company invested in by Cargill and PTT Global Chemical. Our company is
the first to offer a family of commercially available biopolymers
derived from 100 percent annually renewable resources with cost and
performance that compete with petroleum-based packaging materials and
fibers. We apply our unique technology to the processing of natural
plant sugars to create the proprietary polylactide polymer marketed
under the Ingeo? brand name. NatureWorks LLC represents one of the
largest efforts ever in green chemistry and biorefinery. www.natureworksllc.com
About BioAmber
BioAmber's proven, proprietary process and
patented technology uses economically-viable, clean and sustainable
feedstocks to produce platform chemicals for a diverse range of chemical
applications. www.bio-amber.com
About Reluceo
Reluceo, Inc. is a leading green chemistry
company dedicated to the discovery and development of sustainable
technology platforms for manufacturing of functional polymers,
bioplastics and other chemical products from non-food biomass and
underutilized agricultural and forestry resources. www.reluceo.com
About XLTerra
XLTerra, Inc. is a subsidiary of Reluceo
dedicated to xylose-based bioplastics and industrial chemicals. www.reluceo.com
About Segetis
Segetis monomers and products provide high
performing biobased alternatives that reduce fossil fuel demand, cut
greenhouse gas emissions and address toxicity issues in everyday items.
The company's platform technology is positioned for significant global
adoption. With deep management experience in the chemicals and
bioproducts industries, and our ability to leverage a wide array of
biomass feedstocks and low-cost production model techniques, Segetis is
poised to meet increasing long term global demand for high performance,
healthier, biobased materials. www.segetis.com
