Lygos and CJ BIO Join Forces to Launch Commercial-Scale Biorefinery in Iowa

On 10 September 2024, Lygos, a sustainable specialty chemical company, announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CJ BIO, a global leader in fermentation and biotechnology, to produce and deliver commercial volumes of sustainable products. This partnership will see the development of a commercial-scale biorefinery complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The facility will combine CJ BIO’s fermentation and biotechnology expertise with Lygos’ advanced technologies in biology, chemistry, and application development to create high-performing, sustainable solutions.

The biorefinery complex will use sustainable feedstock to produce high-value chemicals and materials. It will utilize existing infrastructure from CJ BIO’s site, while Lygos will develop additional facilities and downstream operations to produce its products. According to Lance Choi, CEO of CJ BIO America, the partnership aligns with CJ BIO’s recent efforts to expand its precision fermentation CDMO (Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization) business, bringing more bio-based solutions to market. Scaling up the existing partnership with Lygos will enable the production of commercial quantities of these innovative products.

Eric Steen, Founder and CEO of Lygos, expressed excitement about the project, highlighting the clear value propositions identified with customers and the opportunity to expand their partnership with CJ BIO. The facility, located within Iowa’s Crossroads of Global Innovation, is ideal for biomanufacturing, featuring 100% renewable electricity, access to sustainable feedstock, and excellent logistics. The site’s proximity to Cargill’s Fort Dodge Corn Mill ensures access to plant-derived sugars, essential for fermenting intermediates for Lygos’ products.

The project is expected to employ 350 temporary workers during construction and create 60 highly skilled jobs once operational. Astra Ferris, CEO of Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, welcomed Lygos, noting CJ BIO’s positive contribution to the community over the past 12 years.

Initially, the biorefinery will support the production of 40,000 metric tons per year of Lygos’ flagship products, Soltellus™ biodegradable polymers and Ecoteria™ biobased malonates, with potential expansion to 100,000 metric tons annually. The partnership also plans to produce biobased aspartic acid and launch new biodegradable materials.

This biorefinery, along with Lygos’ Sustainable Solutions Center in California, forms an integrated platform to accelerate product development from lab to commercial scale, enabling Lygos to meet sustainability goals while expanding its product offerings. Construction is expected to take 18-24 months.

Lygos, Inc. is a sustainable specialty chemical company dedicated to helping customers achieve their highest performance and sustainability objectives. Lygos' innovative solutions aim to replace traditional, carbon-intensive chemicals with cleaner, more efficient, and cost-effective alternatives.

CJ BIO is a division of CJ CheilJedang, a subsidiary of CJ Group, a global company established in South Korea in 1953. CJ Group operates across several sectors, including Food & Food Service, Bio & Pharma, Entertainment & Media, and Retail & Logistics.