Amyris to invest US$5 billion in Brazil

Amyris, a biotechnology firm based in California, is reportedly to invest approximately US$5 billion in the Brazilian ethanol market through the year 2020. Along with local partners, this investment will allow Amyris to secure ethanol supplies for the company, which will produce lubricants, aviation fuel, and chemical inputs for use in cosmetics and perfumes. John Melo, CEO of Amyris, indicates this investment will allow the company to deal with the volatile sugar cane market which is the feedstock for ethanol and can be either earmarked for either sugar production or ethanol depending on market conditions. He states, “Dealing with a market that changes production from sugar to energy and vice versa will always be a problem.” (March 25, 2011)