Cosan S.A. Industria e Comercio and Amyris Inc. have signed a joint venture implementation agreement, taking the two companies one step closer towards the operational start-up of Novvi S.A in Brazil. Novvi was established to develop, produce and commercialize a line of synthetic renewable base oils made from Biofene®, Amyris’ renewable farnesene. Initially, Novvi will source farnesene from Amyris production facilities, convert it through chemical processing into high-end renewable base oils and market and distribute these base oils worldwide. In the future, Novvi may build dedicated farnesene plants. “We expect Novvi to introduce its first products starting next year,” said Paulo Diniz, CEO of Amyris Brasil. (June 13,2011)