Amyris Biotechnologies and Grupo São Martinho Create a Joint Venture Company

Amyris Biotechnologies, Inc. has formed a joint venture company named SMA Indústria Química S.A. with ethanol and sugar producer Grupo São Martinho for producing Amyris renewable products. The new company will come up at Usina São Martinho located in Pradópolis.

Amyris Biotechnologies intends to supply the new joint venture with genetically engineered yeast for producing farnesene, a molecule that can find applications in various industrial and consumer products, such as perfumes, cosmetics, industrial lubricants and detergents. As per the agreement, Grupo São Martinho can transform a second mill for producing Amyris products. Moreover, Amyris Biotechnologies has inked letters of intent contracts with Brazilian ethanol and sugar producers Açúcar Guarani, Cosan and Bunge Limited.

In late 2009, Amyris Biotechnologies revealed plans to purchase a 40% stake in an ethanol-producing mill named Usina Boa Vista operated and owned by Grupo São Martinho. However, the two companies finalized that the establishment of a joint venture company would benefit both of them.