Autodisplay Biotech leads $1.75 million R&D program to lower cellulase costs

In Germany, an international consortium led by Autodisplay Biotech GmbH started Pathway EFB, a $1.75 million collaborative research and development project to significantly lower cellulase cost in the production of biofuels and biobased chemicals. The project builds onto Autodisplay Biotech’s proprietary cell surface display technology which enables a low-cost recovery and re-use of cellulases after the biomass saccharification step. The Pathway EFB consortium is focused on the development of a cellulase blend as well as a corresponding process, fine tuned for the conversion of empty fruit bunches (EFB) to fermentable sugars for the production of high value biochemicals. Empty fruit bunches are a waste by-product from the production of palm oil.