- ROQUETTE, one of the world's most advanced starch and starch-derivatives businesses, and METabolic EXplorer, a green chemistry company that specializes in the development of bioprocesses for the production of chemical compounds used in a wide range of everyday products, today jointly announced the start of a major new stage under the first of their two exclusive partnership agreements, the L-Methionine programme.
Methionine, an amino acid, is an essential component of poultry and piglet feed. This amino acid is currently manufactured using chemical processes dependent on propylene, a crude oil derivative. The global Methionine animal feed market is estimated to be worth 2.2 billion dollars in 2009 for at total output of 600 kilotonnes*.
First tests on poultry
The performance achieved using the bio-process developed by METabolic EXplorer has led to the manufacture of sufficiently large batches of L-Methionine to launch the fist zootechnical tests on poultry. The results obtained have demonstrated nutritional efficiency at least as great at that of the DL-Methionine currently manufactured using petrochemicals. The tests mainly consist in comparing the growth rate of chickens over a period of several weeks.
Launch of tests aimed at achieving regulatory approval
In parallel with these zootechnical tests, tests aimed at obtaining regulatory approval are soon to begin in order to subsequently bring this essential amino acid to market. According to an OECD report**, consumption of animal protein in China and Brazil, mainly chicken and pork, is growing by around 10% and 6% respectively per year. On the basis of these forecasts, the global market for Methionine as a food additive could potentially grow by close to 6% a year for the foreseeable future.
Jean-Bernard Leleu, Roquette's Executive Vice-President and Roquette's Innovation, Research & Development Vice-President said: "This latest advance demonstrates the effectiveness of our partnership with METabolic EXplorer and our determination to play an active role in industrial innovation in the field of green chemistry. During the run-up to approval, L-Methionine market research will simultaneously be carried out by company staff. This latest stage also means we are eagerly looking forward to the start of the industrial pilot and the resulting product marketing prospects."
Benjamin Gonzalez, Chairman of the METabolic EXplorer Management Board added: "METabolic EXplorer is the first company to have developed an efficient, fermentation-based L-Methionine production process using renewable raw materials. METabolic EXplorer is now in the process of validating its scientific model via the technical challenge taken up by ROQUETTE. I am delighted with the synergy between the two teams involved in this programme to develop the first industrial-scale manufacturing bio-process for L-Methionine."
Dr Philippe Guinot, a Senior Partner at Crédit Agricole Private Equity stated: "We are thrilled with this very significant advance for METabolic Explorer's first industrial project, which we continue to support, notably via our presence on the company's Supervisory Board. In our view, METabolic EXplorer is setting the example as a French company actively contributing to the prospects for sustainable development. This essential value recently led us to make a new investment in the ERA Biotech company of Spain, a specialist in the bio-production of proteins."
* Source: Feed info, March 2009
** Source: OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2009-2018
About ROQUETTE - www.roquette.com
ROQUETTE is one of Europe's largest and one of the world's most advanced starch and starch-derivatives businesses and world leader in polyols (sugar alcohols). ROQUETTE derives over 650 products from six million tonnes of maize, wheat, peas and potatoes, and adds outstanding value to over 500,000 hectares of agricultural output. ROQUETTE has annual sales of more than EUR 2 billion and employs some 6,000 people worldwide.
ROQUETTE is a private family business dedicated to long-term development. With production facilities in Europe, North America and Asia, ROQUETTE serves customers all over the world in the food, paper/board, biochemicals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and animal nutrition sectors.
The company is headquartered in Lestrem (France). More information: www.roquette.com.
For more information on the BioHub(R) programme, please visit www.biohub.fr
About METabolic EXplorer - www.metabolic-explorer.com
METabolic EXplorer is a biological chemistry company which was incorporated in 1999. Its goal is to help industrial businesses deal with the heralded "end of oil", so that they can continue to manufacture but in a sustainable way.
Based on the tried and tested principle of industrial fermentation, METabolic Explorer's solutions circumvent the problems posed by today's burdensome and expensive petrochemical processes via the use of a wide range of renewable, sustainable raw materials. By optimizing the metabolic yield of non-pathogenic bacteria in a contained, controlled environment, the company facilitates the production of chemical compounds used in a wide range of everyday goods (paints, solvents, adhesives and textile fibres) and industrial products (such as surgical thread and animal feed).
METabolic EXplorer is currently focusing its alternative biological solutions (implemented by the development of renewable, fermentation-based bioprocesses) on the production of five compounds that together have an estimated, annual, end-market value of $14 billion. The company's strategy will be implemented worldwide via limited-exclusivity industrial alliances and joint-ventures with key players in the chemicals industry.
METabolic EXplorer, based in Clermont-Ferrand, France, is listed on EURONEXT PARIS (EURONEXT C, METEX) and features in the SBF 250 and CAC Small 90 indexes.
Media contacts
ATTITUDE Corporate
Eric de Lambert-Reiner
E-mail : edelambert@attitude-corporate.com
Tel.: +33 (0)1 4970 4341 / +33 (0)6 2529 0658
Emmanuelle Lapeyre
E-mail: elapeyre@attitude-corporate.com
Tel.: +33 (0)1 4970 4343 / +33 (0)6 1588 6209
Investor Relations
METabolic EXplorer S.A.
Paul Michalet, CFO
Biopôle Clermont-Limagne
63360 Saint-Beauzire - FRANCE - Email: infofin@metabolic-explorer.com
Tel.: +33 (0)4 7333 4300
Fax: +33 (0)4 7333 4301
Actus Finance
Jérôme Fabreguettes-Leib
Email: jfl@actus.fr
Tel.: +33 (0)1 7735 0436
This communication includes forward-looking information which is subject to risks and uncertainties. The potential development of the company could be substantially different from that anticipated in this press release because of the various risk factors which are described in the company's Listing Prospectus.
Copyright Hugin
The appendixes relating to the press release are available on: http://www.hugingroup.com/documents_ir/PJ/CO/2009/159962_88_ C2XK_METEX-et-ROQUETTE-tests-homologation-methionine-ENG-091 104.pdf
Information réglementée : Type : Nouvelle information Thème(s): Communiqués au titre de l'obligation d'information permanente - Activité de l'émetteur (acquisitions, cessions...)
This announcement is originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
[CN#159962]
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