By investing about EUR 100 million over the next three years in a joint venture with the American chemical giant DuPont, the Danish company Danisco is sharpening its ambitious strategy to be one of the large players within sales of technology for production of a second generation of bio fuel, writes Berlingske Business.

Danisco’s final goal is to achieve a global first place. Thereby the super dramatic showdown between the two arch rivals Danisco and Novozymes on a future global lead within supply of enzymes and technology for bioethanol as partly substitution for petrol on the basis of  fossil fuel has started for real.

It is the perspective that cellulose from plants more and more will replace the oil-based petrol in the global pursuit for energy and not foodstuff as  for instance maize that has lead to an alliance between Danisco’s American subsidiary company Genencor and DuPont. The new partners expect that it will be possible to start a commercial cellulose-based ethanol production in 2012.

The globally relatively small Danish company and the huge American company aim to develop a technology for production of a new CO2 - friendly green petrol which is to be manufactured of cellulose from maize and sugar stems instead of foodstuffs.

Today Novozymes is on an absolute first place and Danisco is second within development and production of technology and enzymes for bio fuel based on foodstuffs - also named first generation of ethanol.  The chief executives of Danisco has for a long time been annoyed with the fact that Novozymes is leading within enzymes and bio fuel.

The alliance with DuPont about development of technology for future bio fuel Danisco and Novozymes may very well change roles.