CAMBRIDGE, Mass.- Low-cost, renewable-based plastics and biomass energy are closer to realization thanks to a $2 million award received by Metabolix, Inc. from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The award funds a three-year program that will combine advanced plant gene expression technology and high-throughput metabolic profiling to develop robust switchgrass plants that produce a family of renewable plastics, called Mirels (polyhydroxyalkanoates), at costs lower than current general-purpose petrochemical plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Metabolix’s Mirels are a broad and versatile family of plastics ranging in properties from rigid to highly elastic, making them suitable for film, fiber, adhesives, coatings, and molded goods.

The associated benefits are substantial: the integrated biorefineries that will produce Mirels will also generate excess electricity, reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, significantly reduce U.S. dependence on petrochemicals, create jobs in rural areas, provide additional income to farmers, and enable sustainable economic development.

"Developing advanced biomass feedstocks and biobased products are key to transitioning the U.S. to a renewable/sustainable basis for plastics and reducing dependence on petrochemicals," said Dr. Oliver Peoples, Metabolix’s chief scientific officer. "This project’s success will establish an industrial biotechnology basis for the U.S. chemical industry, reversing the current negative trends resulting from Middle East competition and technology migration."

The project is funded by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on behalf of USDA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). USDA and DOE fund programs that support greater use of biomass based products, biomass feedstock production, and biomass processing and conversion as part of the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000. "The conversion of biomass into biobased products, fuels, and energy offers significant benefits to the nation through healthier rural economies, improved environmental quality, and improved energy independence," stated Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman. "These grants will help develop additional renewable energy resources and expand markets for agricultural products."

Founded in 1992, Metabolix, Inc. uses sophisticated biotechnology to produce environmentally friendly performance plastics and specialty chemicals from renewable resources. Metabolix is the world leader in applying the advanced tools of metabolic engineering and molecular biology to efficiently produce Mirel bioplastics in microbial systems and directly in non-food plant crops. The company is currently commercializing fermentation-based Mirels in applications where they provide unique performance benefits.

For more information on Metabolix, visit www.metabolix.com. Further information about the program is available at http://www.bioproducts-bioenergy.gov.