Customer: Cargill / NatureWorks LLC
CHALLENGE
To create a new production host for lactic acid production better suited for industrial production
conditions
SOLUTION
VTT engineered a yeast strain for more efficient conversion of plant materials to lactic acid. NatureWorks LLC, subsidiary of Cargill, is currently a leading producer of plant based bioplastics.
BENEFIT
Contributed to lowering production costs.
*Ref. Ilmén et al. Microbial Cell Factories 2013, 12:53

Collaboration with VTT enabled Cargill to explore a larger technology space. VTT’s strong expertise in working with non-conventional microbes was very beneficial in the Cargill project.
Pirkko Suominen, AVP, Director, Biotechnology Development Center