Verenium Corporation has entered into a joint research collaboration with Syngenta AG of Switzerland.

Under the agreement, Verenium gained additional exclusive rights to an array of proprietary biomolecules expressed microbially, as well as non-exclusive rights to the same biomolecules expressed through non-plant and non-microbial means. Syngenta will retain exclusive rights to the biomolecules expressed in plants, as well as nonexclusive rights to the same biomolecules expressed through non-plant, non-microbial means.

Verenium has also obtained the rights to several late-stage enzyme development candidates, including alpha amylases and glucoamylases for starch processing in biofuels production, as well as three for use in the animal feed industry and thermostable phytases also for use in the animal feed industry. The animal feed industry is the second largest market for enzymes, with an estimated 7% rate of underlying growth per year.