Technological validation of yeast for the corn ethanol industry

• Grant number: 24/10470-9
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Agreement: SEBRAE-SP
• Principal Investigator: Osmar Vaz de Carvalho Netto
• Grantee: Osmar Vaz de Carvalho Netto
• CNAE: Pesquisa e desenvolvimento experimental em ciências físicas e naturais
• Associated researchers: Alexandre Ruffini
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/05231-8 - Technological validation of yeast in relevant and operational environments, BP.TT

Abstract

The project under consideration for this PIPE FAPESP Sebrae StartUp-Company call involves the technological validation of yeast developed for the corn ethanol industry. This technology enhances ethanol yield and reduces operational costs, producing positive economic and environmental impacts for biorefineries. The prototype validation will be conducted in partnership with BIOX, a leader in the yeast industry, driven by the opportunity to diversify its portfolio and enter new markets. The solution, developed by BIOINFOOD, has yielded significant results in small-scale trials. This proposal seeks to challenge the solution beyond the laboratory environment, to ensure its technical and commercial feasibility for subsequent large-scale production. Considering the intrinsic challenges of scaling biotechnological processes, coupled with the specific requirements of the yeast and biorefinery sectors, the solution requires testing in relevant and operational environments to validate key requirements in the industrial process of propagation in molasses, as well as in the fermentation process of corn liquefaction sugars to ethanol. Upon validation, BIOX intends to industrialize and commercialize the technology. For BIOINFOOD, the validation signifies an opportunity to scale its business model, expanding and solidifying its market presence in the yeast sector. (AU)