Amyris plans sugarcane biorefinery for cosmetics in Queensland, Australia

US-based renewable products developer Amyris has partnered with the Government of Queensland to develop a biorefinery to make cosmetics from sugarcane in the Australian state.

The new plant will produce Amyris' sugarcane-based ingredient farnesene for use in fragrances, cosmetic emollients, nutraceuticals, lubricants, and polymers.

The project is part of Queensland's Government's Biofutures Acceleration Programme, which provides support for developing commercial-scale biorefineries.

Queensland's Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said: "Amyris is seeking to replicate its successful biorefinery in Brazil and sees Queensland as an ideal location due to the abundance of sugarcane and close proximity to Asia.

"The Queensland Government's funding and support for biorefinery projects will create high-value jobs and investment in regional Queensland by using renewable feedstocks to create biofuel and other bioproducts."

The new biorefinery plant is expected to produce 23,000t of farnesene per year.

Amyris' president and chief executive officer (CEO) John Melo said: "Our growing demand in China for vitamins and the Asian demand for cosmetics and fragrances support a new specialty farnesene fermentation factory in Queensland.

“The funding from the Queensland government along with the operating expertise and sugarcane base of our local partner make this factory possible and enable savings from our current production in Brazil and the associated shipping costs.”