Amyris, Firmenich expand collaboration agreement for flavours and fragrances

US-based integrated renewable products company Amyris and Switzerland-based fragrance and flavours firm Firmenich have signed an expansion collaboration agreement to develop and commercialise renewable ingredients for the flavours and fragrances (F&F) market.

Both the firms established collaboration in November 2010, under which Firmenich funded Amyris’s research and development to produce up to three F&F ingredients, with an initial fragrance oil, which is expected to be commercialised in early 2014.

As per the new agreement, Firmenich can access Amyris technology platform for the F&F market in exchange for some funding over the next six years.

The new agreement allows Amyris and Firmenich to jointly select additional target F&F ingredients, which Amyris will develop and manufacture.

Firmenich will market and distribute any ingredients resulting from the collaboration exclusively in the F&F market.

Both parties will share in the economic value derived from the sale of those ingredients.

Firmenich chief executive officer Patrick Firmenich said the firm’s partnership with Amyris leverages its biotechnology platform within the F&F industry, which is supported by the company’s team of molecular biologists and intellectual property, as well as, its client intimacy and market understanding.

"Innovation and sustainability are critical pillars of our business model. Thanks to this expanded partnership, we look forward to consistently providing our clients with high-quality, sustainable, and cost-competitive ingredients," Firmenich added.