April 21, 2006

Syngenta introduces enzyme-enhanced corn for ethanol

Swiss-based Syngenta AG announced Wednesday (Apr 21) what it said was the world's first enzyme-enhanced corn seed designed for ethanol.

The seeds, which contain an enzyme that turns the corn's starch into sugar for ethanol, will debut next year in the United States, Syngenta's head of development, David Jones said.

Syngenta and US rivals Monsanto Co and DuPont Co are benefiting from demand for corn as prices for crude oil soars.

The seeds, containing thermal-tolerant digestive enzyme amylase, will reduce costs by eliminating the need for mills to add liquid enzymes, said Jones, who oversees Syngenta's seed-development programme. Enzymes normally hasten the process but do not necessarily lead to increased yields.

Syngenta declined to give an estimate on how much the new seeds will cut production costs.