Jan
31 2010

Collaboraton working with deep sea microorganisms for agriculture solutions

Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. (MBI), is collaborating with the laboratories of research microbiologist Dr. Paul Jensen and Professor William Fenical at the University of California at San Diego, Scripps Institute, to find deep sea microorganisms with potential applications for pest management. UC’s Industry University Cooperative Research Program (IUCRP) awarded Dr. Jensen’s Lab a Discovery Grant for the joint project.

Dr. Jensen’s lab collaborates with the lab of Dr. William Fenical who is internationally recognized for significant discoveries of new pharmaceutical compounds from naturally occurring marine microorganisms. MBI is also developing a novel marine microorganism discovered by Dupont and Biomar, S.A. for use as a rice herbicide.

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From Issue 9 • Categories: Tags: bioremediation, marine bioprospecting, marine drugs, marine extract, marine natural product, marine organism • No Comments

May
11 2009

Microbes May Scrub Way to Profits

Michael Dennis was the president and CEO of Genome Atlantic when he became interested in using microbes to clean up the environment. Microbes are natural cleaning agents because they decompose and digest waste. “I realized the market opportunities in the growing green economy were huge,” he said. Thus, he left his position with Genome Atlantic and founded Blue Bio. “There is an enormous shift in the business world toward revamping processes and materials to prevent pollution. As companies determine how to adopt green business practices, service providers who can get ahead of the wave of that shift will find a ready market. That’s where we plan to play.” Blue Bio looked for systems that already incorporated biotechnology. Late last year he acquired local rights for a system that targets machinery. “All machines need to be degreased and right now the standard is to use chemical solvents, which not only emit greenhouse gasses and other pollutants, but create waste that is considered extremely toxic,” he says. “We have a system that uses water-based cleaners to degrease and then microbes to digest the waste; thus, no emissions, no hazardous waste to dispose.” He and his partner see the market opportunities in the tougher environmental standards that companies will have to meet in the not-too-distant future. The long-term vision is in the area of converting waste to bio-energy.

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From Issue 3 • Categories: Tags: bioprocessing, bioremediation, marine biotechnology, marine enzymes, marine microbe • No Comments