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To support the industry’s expansion, Beta Bugs recently co-founded the UK’s Insect Bioconversion Association, in conjunction with BSF company Better Origin and other commercial insect producers.

Gurney: He sits on the board of Craig Ventor’s Synthetic Genomics, and works closely with lots of companies looking at biological applications for everything from bioconversion of waste feedstocks into specialty chemicals and—I love this one—humanization of pig organs for cross-species organ transplant, which they affectionately call the ‘Sarah Palin project’—putting lipstick on a pig.

“The organism produces its own enzymes, so you cut out one of the most costly components,” explains Jonathan Mielenz, who heads the Bioconversion Science & Technology Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee and has collaborated with Mascoma.

The research, “Effect of ozonolysis on bioconversion of miscanthus to bioethanol,” was co-authored by Sharma-Shivappa, NC State Ph.D. student Anushadevi Panneerselvam, Dr. Praveen Kolar, an assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering at NC State, Dr. Thomas Ranney, a professor of horticultural science at NC State, and Dr. Steve Peretti, an associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at NC State.