Australia
November 8, 2024
Nufarm, announces the establishment of strategic R&D partnerships further expanding its bioenergy and sustainable oils platform. In recent years, the Company acquired Biomass Oil trait technology developed by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, comprising a significant estate of patents and know-how relating to technology traits that when deployed into crops enable novel production and accumulation of oil in plant tissue. This acquisition and subsequent potential advancements are intended to bring new sustainable oil feedstock volumes to downstream industries.
To advance this technology, Nufarm has established R&D partnerships with the University of Florida (UF) USA and the Instituto Agronomico (IAC) Brazil and expanded its R&D partnership with CSIRO to create a strategic pathway to advance this R&D technology, and associated know-how which further enhances Nufarm’s novel, sustainable, and scalable oils strategy in high-biomass crops.
Nufarm’s proprietary energy cane and forage sorghum genetics offer two of the highest biomass crops suited for the development and introgression of the Biomass Oil trait. In conjunction with the acquisition of the Biomass Oil Technology, Nufarm has created a strategic pathway to advance this R&D technology, and associated know-how.
When crops are harvested, the lipids in the aerial part of plants can be removed via crushing and/or an enzyme extraction process and then refined into biofuels such as biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) or used as a feedstock for other uses including a broad range of consumer goods. After separation from the lipids, bioethanol can be created from the remaining sucrose content.
“These Biomass Oil IP assets provide a potentially transformational complement to Nufarm's bioenergy and beyond yield platform strategy aligned with our objective to develop an industry-leading bioenergy and consumer goods position from advanced feedstock crops,” says Greg Hunt, CEO of Nufarm Limited. “In addition to our proprietary plant genetics and research capability, this consortium of world-class R&D and technical partners was selected for their specific complementary capabilities and experience related to the activities required and the project is well underway.”
Nufarm is also working with additional strategic partners to identify new opportunities for technical project development and future downstream commercialization.
About CSIRO As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. It is one of the largest and most multidisciplinary mission-driven research organisations in the world. CSIRO works with industry, government and the research community to turn science into solutions, addressing challenges including food security and quality; sustainable energy and resources; health and wellbeing; resilient and valuable environments; future industries; and a secure Australia and region. Learn more at: www.csiro.au
About the University of Florida (UF) The University of Florida is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida, United States. As a senior member of the State University System of Florida. As a top five public land-grant research university, the University of Florida creates a collaborative environment and accelerates future solutions. Learn more at: https://www.ufl.edu/
About IAC IAC is a Brazilian public research and innovation institution in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The Institute generates and transfers science, technology, and products for the optimisation of plant production systems, with environmental responsibility, aiming at socioeconomic development and food security, through research, training of human resources, and preservation of heritage. In the area of biotechnology, it has the infrastructure and highly specialized personnel needed to speed up the generation of genetically modified plants, including energy cane and sorghum. Learn more at: https://iac.sp.gov.br/
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