DuPont’s big bioscience bets: butanol, cellulosic ethanol, omega-3 acids

By Andrew Nusca | February 25, 2011, 10:24 AM PST

NEW YORK — DuPont wants to help raise sustainably-farmed salmon by offering them a diet loaded with omega-3 fatty acids that it manufactures from soybeans.

The idea: instead of feeding fish other fish to elevate omega-3 levels, why not provide them with the acids directly?

And beyond that: instead of asking Americans to eat more fish to get omega-3, why not put the acids in everyday foods such as sauces and soups?

That was among the more interesting details of Craig Binetti’s presentation at the 11th Jefferies Global Clean Technology Conference on Thursday. Binetti, the president of DuPont’s Nutrition & Health and Applied BioSciences divisions, says he sees “large potential market opportunities” for his group that will lead to 7 percent annual growth for the company.

Binetti outlined four megatrends driving these opportunities:

1. Increasing food production.
2. Reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
3. Protecting people & the environment.
4. Growing in developing markets.

The Applied BioSciences division, which counts $1 billion in revenue, is comprised of two primary businesses: biomaterials, which includes the company’s Bio-PDFO, Sorona, Omega-3, biosurfaces and biomedical products; and biofuels, which includes cellulosic ethanol and biobutanol.

BIOTECHNOLOGY

The biomaterials group expects to see an estimated $1 billion in revenue by 2015. Currently, it stands at $200 million.

“Through the downturn, our businesses grew significantly,” he said.

Highlights included:

• “One of the world’s largest” aerobic facilities, a 100million-lb plant in Loudon, Tenn.
• A successful partnership with carpet manufacturer Mohawk for their “Smart Strand” carpet.
• Solid revenues for its Sorona renewable polymer: $3 billion in flooring, $8 billion in apparel, $1 billion in automotive and $1 billion in packaging.
• A zero-fat soybean oil called Plenish under its “Pioneer” brand in 2012.

“We have a unique capability to have both science in advanced materials as well as biotechnology,” Binetti said. “Our goal is to be a powerhouse in industrial biotechnology.”

BIOFUELS

On the biofuels side, DuPont is working simultaneously on cellulosic ethanol — for which it has opened a demonstration plant — and biobutanol, for which it has a demonstration plant under construction.