Syngenta recently announced it has agreements in place with more than 30 ethanol plants with its Enogen corn enzyme technology. The combined production capacity is approximately 3 billion gallons and as new plants come on board, Syngenta expects ethanol produced with Enogen to be 2.5 billion gallons during 2018 alone.
Enogen corn is an in-seed innovation available exclusively from Syngenta and features the first biotech corn output trait designed specifically to enhance ethanol production. The product is rapidly gaining widespread acceptance because of the value it delivers to ethanol producers and the opportunity it provides corn growers to be enzyme suppliers for their local ethanol plants.
“Enogen corn is adding value for ethanol plants, corn growers, and rural communities,” said Jeff Oestmann, head, Bio-fuels Operations – Enogen at Syngenta. “Across a growing number of ethanol plants, Enogen corn is helping to fuel enzyme innovation.”
The robust alpha amylase enzyme in Enogen grain significantly reduces the viscosity of corn mash and eliminates the need to add a liquid form of the enzyme. This breakthrough reduction can lead to unprecedented levels of solids loading, which directly contributes to increased throughput and yield potential, as well as critical cost savings from reduced natural gas, electricity, and water usage. Enogen corn also enables ethanol plants to gain corn market knowledge from mid-year corn estimates.
Farmers who grow Enogen corn are eligible to earn an additional premium per bushel. During 2018, Enogen corn is expected to generate approximately $28.5 million of additional revenue for local growers contracting with plants using Enogen grain through per-bushel premiums. Numerous trials have shown that Enogen hybrids perform equal to or better than other high-performing corn hybrids.
“Syngenta is committed to the success of the U.S. ethanol industry and to helping ethanol plants adopt the best enzyme strategy,” Oestmann added. “We are proud to have made a significant investment to bring this game-changing technology to market. Enogen corn is helping to make ethanol more sustainable and is helping ethanol producers to differentiate their offerings while supporting their local communities by keeping enzyme dollars local.”
