Bluestem Biosciences, a member of Bio Nebraska, has been announced one of the winners of the National Corn Growers Association’s Consider Corn Challenge IV.
Yesterday, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) announced the winners of the Consider Corn Challenge IV. Four winners were chosen, each with a unique way to improve a product or process using feed corn to produce biobased materials. The award was announced at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership 2023 Conference in San Francisco, California.
Omaha, Nebraska-based Bluestem Bioscience was recognized as one of the winners. According to an NCGA announcement, the company has developed novel yeast biology for the sustainable anaerobic bio-production of 3-Hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), a chemical intermediate for the acrylates chemical family, a $25B total addressable market. This strategic platform molecule serves a variety of consumer end markets, like personal care products, paints and coatings. Bluestem will leverage its novel yeast biology through the retrofit of underutilized existing shuttered ethanol production facilities across the U.S. Their anaerobic biology is intended to mimic ethanol production, creating numerous economic benefits while supporting the rural Midwest bioeconomy and agricultural communities. Additionally, Bluestem’s technology reduces dependence on petroleum for feedstock currently used in chemical production and relies on corn as the primary feedstock, while reshoring supply chains back to the United States.