Mendel Biotech raises fourth round for biofuels
Hayward, Calif.’s Mendel Biotechnology, an agricultural biotech, raised an undisclosed sum in a fourth round of funding, VentureWire reports (subscription required). The funding accompanied a development deal with the U.K. energy giant BP; Monsanto, a major developer of genetically modified seeds and a longtime Mendel partner, also participated.
The BP deal centers on the development of new genetically modified strains of grass that could be used to produce cellulosic ethanol. The production of ethanol from grasses… Continue Reading
Big Oil and UC Berkeley supporting cellulosic research
There’s a notable story in the SF Chron about miscanthus, a tropical “superweed” so tough and prolific that it looks to be a promising source for cellulosic ethanol — good for the environment and potentially translating into bundles of cash for farmers.
This is ironic, because the efforts to grow it — see story — are part of a $500 million effort by UC Berkeley’s partnership with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, funded by… Continue Reading
Feds add fuel to fire of cellulosic ethanol trend
Range Fuels, the Broomfield Colo., company racing to build the first commercial plant for producing a more efficient form of ethanol, got closer to that goal after being awarded a $76 million grant by the U.S. Department of Energy.
This is significant because cellulosic ethanol, made from crop waste, switchgrass, woodchips, and other bio refuse, is much more efficient and cleaner than regular corn ethanol, and could help the nation in its quest for alternative energy… Continue Reading
Ethanol use causing corn shortages, spiking price of tortillas
Tortilla prices are going up, causing hardship for the poor in Mexico, apparently because of all the use of ethanol in the U.S.
The U.S. is making lots of ethanol out of corn, to use as an alternative to gasoline — creating a shortage of corn for people wanting to make tortillas. Indeed, there some 100 more ethanol plants being planned, which will eat up even more corn — and this comes despite doubts about whether… Continue Reading
Mascoma gets $14.8M to produce ethanol from biomass
Mascoma, a Cambridge, Mass. start-up that is trying to become the first commercial developer of cellulosic ethanol — something some environmentalists see as the most promising prospect for alternative, anti-global warming fuel — has won $14.8 million more in financing.
This comes after the company raised $30 million in fresh funding last month from Silicon Valley venture firm Kleiner Perkins and others.
The latest award, given by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and… Continue Reading