FDA approves Syngenta’s new corn seed for bulk trial; first seed to contain the vital corn amylase enzyme

In Washington, the FDA approved bulk trials of a new corn seed from Syngenta which contains the corn amylase enzyme, after positive results from pilot trials. The Anglo-Swiss group company said that it has developed a means of growing the enzyme directly in the corn seeds, removing the need to ship enzymes to ethanol plants and introduce them into the conversion process. The company says its expects to have the seed ready for the 2009 growing season.

Enzymes have been the subject of intense interest in the past year, particularly for cellulosic ethanol. Shell has purchased an undisclosed stake in stake in Codexis, a cellulosic ethanol enzymes developer. VeraSun took a stake in the Q Microbe, also related to cellulosic ethanol development.

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