MicroBioGen
Macquarie Park (Wallumatta), New South Wales.
Australian Export Awards provide invaluable exposure
We highly encourage all Australian exporters to apply for this award. They provide invaluable exposure for their businesses and validates the hard work and dedication of their teams.
Geoffrey Bell, MicroBioGen’s Chief Executive Officer.
Resources and Energy winner – MicroBioGen.
Exports on the rise for yeast innovators MicroBioGen
21 November 2024
MicroBioGen is building a new Australian industry using the world’s most widely used microorganism. This is helping solve problems and improve the sustainability of a range of global industries.
This Australian Export Awards Resources and Energy award category winner’s target markets are wide and diverse. They include everything from biofuel to baking, sustainable feed and beverages. It also includes emerging industries such as biochemicals and power to protein.
The company was founded in 2001 with the vision to enhance the industrial capabilities of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the microbial workhorse of the industry. This yeast underpins around US$2 trillion in products annually. MicroBioGen developed yeast are now sold throughout North America, Europe and South America, via a global partnership arrangement.
Superior yeast strains foster a thriving global industry
Biotechnology is an intricate and ever-evolving field. It requires a long-term deep technology approach to remain successful and at the cutting edge of innovation. MicroBioGen is taking a truly long-term approach to address the many challenges faced by yeast-dependant industries.
‘The novel and superior yeast strains we deliver to our global partners enable current industries to improve their efficiency, sustainability and economics,’ says MicroBioGen’s Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Bell. ‘We’re also facilitating the development of new and more sustainable future-facing industries.’
Developing superior industrial yeast strains from elite genetics
MicroBioGen’s proprietary technology platform allows the company to develop and combine multiple elite genetics into single industrially superior yeast strains. MicroBioGen’s indexed library of elite genetics has over 100 long-term projects for a range of specific industrially relevant traits. As a result, MicroBioGen’s scientists continue to push the boundaries and redefine what is possible with yeast performance.
A bioethanol partnership with a biotech giant goes global
A successful bioethanol partnership with a global biotech leader has cemented MicroBioGen’s reputation in leading the world in yeast innovation. MicroBioGen’s team of experienced and innovative scientists worked with the global biotech company to develop and commercialise its Innova® branded yeasts.
Innova® yeasts are the leading biocatalysts used to produce bioethanol in North America. They produce more than 40 billion litres of bioethanol each year without any extra CO2 emissions or costs. They are increasingly being deployed around the world.
Turning trash into treasure
MicroBioGen is spearheading the development of more sustainable and more cost-effective energy through a series of long-term R&D collaborations.
‘The holy grail for bioethanol production is creating bioethanol from non-food biomass,’ says Bell. ‘Once sustainable bioethanol is produced, it can be used directly or converted into sustainable aviation fuel.’
MicroBioGen is not only lowering the cost of bioethanol. It has also developed the technology that addresses sustainability by converting bioethanol side streams into high value, high protein feed supplements.
‘Australia’s plentiful feedstocks, such as sugar cane, will allow for both the production of bioethanol and increasing food security by adding to the global food supply,’ comments Bell. ‘Countries such as Brazil are already leading the way in second-generation bioethanol.’
The novel and superior yeast strains we deliver to our global partners enable current industries to improve their efficiency, sustainability and economics.
Delivering ‘yeast innovation as a service’
MicroBioGen’s business model is to deliver ‘yeast innovation as a service’ to its global partners. Its global partners have recognised the value of MicroBioGen’s technology after its worldwide deployment in the bioethanol industry.
Organisations that are collaborating with MicroBioGen fully appreciate the competitive advantage that MicroBioGen’s technology offers. As a result, MicroBioGen is well advanced in delivering ‘drop-in’ yeast-based solutions across a range of industries outside of bioethanol, such as baking, yeast extracts, biochemicals, wine and spirits.
Fostering global science from Sydney
The Sydney-based company promotes international collaboration by sending its scientists to global partners for joint research.
In the past year, MicroBioGen scientists have visited Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, France, Indonesia, Sweden, The Netherlands and various states across the US. MicroBioGen boasts a diverse workforce, with over half of its team being female. Over half of its workforce was born overseas, from countries such as Ecuador, Serbia, Greece, South Africa, Philippines, Indonesia and England.
Australian Export Awards provide invaluable exposure
MicroBioGen is the winner of the Resources and Energy award category at this year’s Australian Export Awards.
It’s not the first time the company has been recognised at the Australian Export Awards. The company took out the top spot in the Minerals, Energy and Related Services award category in 2019. It was also a finalist in the Sustainability award category in 2021.
‘We highly encourage all Australian exporters to apply for this award,’ says Bell. ‘They provide invaluable exposure for their businesses and validates the hard work and dedication of their teams.’
Raising the dough in 2025
MicroBioGen expects to maintain strong export growth over the next 3 years. It is gearing up for a significant lab expansion in 2025. It is also developing superior and sustainable wine yeast, which will have a global impact on the beverage industry.
MicroBioGen expects to continue to strongly grow its revenue and profitability. As it continues to innovate, the company will no doubt retain its title as the collaborator of choice for yeast biotechnology across the world.
Visit MicroBioGen website.
Resources and Energy winner – MicroBioGen. For the full transcript please visit the Resources and Energy Award 2024 - MicroBioGen video on YouTube.
