The company's goal is to further expand its bioenergy platform
(November 7, 2024) - Nuseed, the Seed Technologies platform of Nufarm Limited (ASX:NUF), announces the establishment of strategic R&D partnerships further expanding its bioenergy and sustainable oils platform.
In recent years, the Company acquired Biomass Oil trait technology developed by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, comprising a significant estate of patents and know-how relating to technology traits that when deployed into crops enable novel production and accumulation of oil in plant tissue. This acquisition and subsequent potential advancements are intended to bring new sustainable oil feedstock volumes to downstream industries.
To advance this technology, Nueed has established R&D partnerships with the University of Florida (UF) USA and the Instituto Agronomico (IAC) Brazil and expanded its R&D partnership with CSIRO to create a strategic pathway to advance this R&D technology, and associated know-how which further enhances Nufarm’s novel, sustainable, and scalable oils strategy in high-biomass crops.
Nuseed’s proprietary energy cane and forage sorghum genetics offer two of the highest biomass crops suited for the development and introgression of the Biomass Oil trait. In conjunction with the acquisition of the Biomass Oil Technology, Nuseed has created a strategic pathway to advance this R&D technology, and associated know-how.
When crops are harvested, the lipids in the aerial part of plants can be removed via crushing and/or an enzyme extraction process and then refined into biofuels such as biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) or used as a feedstock for other uses including a broad range of consumer goods. After separation from the lipids, bioethanol can be created from the remaining sucrose content.
“These Biomass Oil IP assets provide a potentially transformational complement to Nuseed’s bioenergy and beyond yield platform strategy aligned with our objective to develop an industry-leading bioenergy and consumer goods position from advanced feedstock crops,” says Greg Hunt, CEO of Nufarm Limited. “In addition to our proprietary plant genetics and research capability, this consortium of world-class R&D and technical partners was selected for their specific complementary capabilities and experience related to the activities required and the project is well underway.”
Nuseed is also working with additional strategic partners to identify new opportunities for technical project development and future downstream commercialization.
Science breakthrough using plants as fuel without impacting food security
A breakthrough more than a decade in the making, makes use of a plant’s leaves and stems to create oil, which has the potential to be used as a new global energy source.
(November 8, 2024) - An Australian-led scientific breakthrough to increase oil yield from plants will help advance the production and use of biofuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel.
Developed over a decade by scientists from Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, the technology was acquired by Australian agricultural innovation company Nufarm.
The Biomass Oil Project has been announced with Nufarm leading a new global research partnership to further develop the technology.
Oils from plants are produced by specialized seeds and fruits, but CSIRO scientists looked at extending that to the biomass of the plant, including the leaves and stem.
CSIRO’s Dr Thomas Vanhercke, who has been working on the project for more than a decade, said the technology would have the potential to create an important new global energy source.
“We were inspired to develop this technology in response to the world’s need for increased production of plant oil without impacting on food security,” Dr Vanhercke said.
“With CSIRO’s existing expertise in the area and the partnership with Nufarm on the Omega-3 canola project, we started thinking about how to extend that to the challenge of developing industrial scale feedstock oil from plants.
“We took the genetics for seed oil production and incorporated them across a range of crops with promising success.”
Current project lead, Dr Xue-Rong Zhou, said the world-leading research in boosting oil yield from plants is a major breakthrough for Australia and beyond.
“This development of new biofuels and renewable oils will support a sustainable future,” Dr Zhou said.
“We are looking forward to working with Nufarm and our global research partners to deploy the technology into high biomass energy cane and sorghum varieties and make it a reality.”
Nufarm CEO, Greg Hunt, said the company is now bringing together researchers from CSIRO, the University of Florida (UF), USA and the Instituto Agronomico (IAC), Brazil to take the work to the next level.
“We have assembled a consortium of world-class R&D and technical partners who bring unique experience to develop this technology,” he said.
“Nufarm is also working with key strategic partners to further support the technical project development and future downstream commercialization.”
Find out more about the Biomass Oil Project.
About Nufarm
Nufarm is a global agricultural innovator providing crop protection and seed technology solutions to help our customers grow a better tomorrow. Established over 100 years ago, Nufarm is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:NUF) with its head office in Melbourne, Australia. Through its seed technologies platform (Nuseed), Nufarm is the first company to develop and commercialize plant-based omega-3 and has developed and commercialized advanced bioenergy feedstock technology. Learn more at: https://nufarm.com/
About CSIRO
As Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. It is one of the largest and most multidisciplinary mission-driven research organisations in the world. CSIRO works with industry, government and the research community to turn science into solutions, addressing challenges including food security and quality; sustainable energy and resources; health and wellbeing; resilient and valuable environments; future industries; and a secure Australia and region. Learn more at: www.csiro.au
About the University of Florida (UF)
The University of Florida is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida, United States. As a senior member of the State University System of Florida. As a top five public land-grant research university, the University of Florida creates a collaborative environment and accelerates future solutions. Learn more at: https://www.ufl.edu/
About IAC
IAC is a Brazilian public research and innovation institution in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The Institute generates and transfers science, technology, and products for the optimisation of plant production systems, with environmental responsibility, aiming at socioeconomic development and food security, through research, training of human resources, and preservation of heritage. In the area of biotechnology, it has the infrastructure and highly specialized personnel needed to speed up the generation of genetically modified plants, including energy cane and sorghum. Learn more at: https://iac.sp.gov.br/
Nuseed is the seed technologies platform of Nufarm Limited (ASX:NUF)
