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{{Short description|Agricultural Science Company}}
{{Undisclosed paid|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = Metabolix, Inc.
| name = Yield10 Bioscience
| logo = [[Image:Metabolix Logo.jpg|180px]]
| logo =
| logo_size = 180px
| caption =
| caption =
| type =
| type =
| traded_as = {{Nasdaq|MBLX}}
| traded_as = {{NASDAQ|YTEN}}
| genre = <!-- Only used with media and publishing companies -->
| genre = <!-- Only used with media and publishing companies -->
| fate =
| fate =
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| founder =
| founder =
| defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| location_city = Cambridge, MA
| location_city = Woburn, MA
| location_country = USA
| location_country = USA
| locations =
| locations =
| area_served =
| area_served =
| key_people = Richard P. Eno ([[CEO]]), Anthony J. Sinskey (Founder), Joseph D. Hill ([[CFO]]), Oliver P. Peoples ([[Chief Science Officer|CSO]])
| key_people = Anthony J. Sinskey (Co-Founder), Oliver P. Peoples ([[CEO]]), Kristi Snell ([[Chief Science Officer|CSO]])
| industry = Specialty Chemicals
| industry =
| products =
| products =
| production =
| production =
| services =
| services =
| revenue = {{ubl|{{increase}}[[United States dollar|US$]]1,425,000 (2011)|US$448,000 (2010)}}
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| operating_income = {{ubl|{{increase}}[[United States dollar|US$]]-38,861,000 (2011)|US$-38,939,000 (2010)}}
| net_income =
| net_income = {{ubl|{{increase}}[[United States dollar|US$]]-38,785,000 (2011)|US$-38,803,000 (2010)}}
| aum = <!-- Only used with financial services companies -->
| aum = <!-- Only used with financial services companies -->
| assets =
| assets =
| equity =
| equity =
| owner = [[Fidelity Investments]], Jack Schuler, [[State Farm Insurance]], others
| owner =
| num_employees = 95
| num_employees =
| parent =
| parent =
| divisions =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| subsid =
| homepage = <!-- {{URL|examplesite.com}} -->
| homepage = {{URL|www.yield10bio.com}}
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
| intl =
| intl =
}}
}}
'''Yield10 Bioscience''' (formerly '''Metabolix, Inc.''') is a company developing new technologies to achieve improvements in [[crop yield]] to enhance global food security.
'''Metabolix, Inc.''' is an award winning innovation-driven [[bioplastics]] technology development and commercialization company founded in 1992. Metabolix is driven by the overall goal of sustainability, while continuing to develop biobased solutions and provide alternatives for plastic, chemicals, and energy, as stated on the Metabolix website. The company’s headquarters is located in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]].<ref name="about">http://www.metabolix.com/about About</ref>

Since 2006 Metabolix has been a publicly traded company.<ref name="Bradt">{{cite web |url = http://www.forbes.com/sites/georgebradt/2013/01/30/planning-your-future-when-the-future-you-had-planned-goes-awry/ |title = Planning Your Future When the Future You Had Planned Goes Awry |last = Bradt |first = George |publisher = Forbes |date = 2013-01-30 |work= Forbes-Leadership |accessdate= 2013-03-01}}</ref> As of December 2012, Metabolix has approximately 100 full-time employees and offices in the US and Germany.<ref name="Seiffert">{{cite web |url = http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass-high-tech/2012/07/metabolix-signs-agreement-with-madrid.html?page=all |title = Metabolix signs agreement with Madrid manufacturer |last = Seiffert |first = Don |publisher = Boston Business Journal |date = 2012-07-27 |work= Mass High Tech |accessdate= 2013-03-01}}</ref>

Metabolix specializes in providing sustainable solutions to the plastic, chemical and energy industries. The company develops and commercializes high-performance [[Polyhydroxyalkanoates|PHA]] [[biopolymers]] targeted to the markets for film and bag applications, performance additives and functional [[biodegradation]]. The company opened an office in Cologne, Germany in April 2012 and is currently focused on expanding its business in the European bioplastics market.<ref name="Valigra">{{cite web |url = http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass-high-tech/2012/04/metabolix-opens-office-in-germany.html |title = Metabolix opens office in Germany |last = Valigra |first = Lori |publisher = Boston Business Journal |date = 2012-04-18 |work= Mass High Tech |accessdate= 2013-03-01}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
Founded in 1992 with the help of a research and licensing agreement with [[University of Massachusetts Lowell|UMass Lowell]],<ref name="Aguirre">{{cite web |url = http://www.uml.edu/News/stories/2009-10/metabolix_celebration.aspx |title = UMass Lowell, Metabolix/Telles Celebrate Partnership |last = Aguirre |first = Edwin |publisher = UMass Lowell Press |date = 2010-06-30 |accessdate= 2013-03-01}}</ref> Metabolix, Inc. is a bioscience and engineering company with headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Metabolix provides sustainable solutions to the plastic, chemical and energy industries. Oliver Peoples, Ph.D., and Anthony Sinskey, Ph.D., co-founded Metabolix after work at the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] (MIT) that identified the elementary methods and means for engineering [[polyhydroxyalkanoates]] out of plants and bacteria, thus making them biodegradable.<ref name="Trafton">{{cite journal |url = http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/bioplastics.html |title = One word: bioplastics |last = Trafton |first = Anne |publisher = MIT |date = 2009-11-17 |work = MIT News Office |accessdate= 2013-03-01}}</ref>
Founded in 1992, with the help of a licensing agreement with [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] (MIT),<ref name="Annual-Report">{{cite web |url = https://ir.yield10bio.com/static-files/19aff746-0439-4502-930f-35ec4f648d95 |title = Metabolix, Inc. Annual Report 2013 |date = 2014-03-28 |access-date= 2021-10-25}}</ref> Metabolix, Inc. is a bioscience company with headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Metabolix provides sustainable solutions to the plastic, chemical and energy industries. Oliver Peoples, Ph.D., and Anthony Sinskey, Ph.D., co-founded Metabolix after work at the (MIT) that identified the elementary methods and means for engineering [[polyhydroxyalkanoates]] production in plants and bacteria, thus making them biodegradable.<ref name="Trafton">{{cite journal |url = http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/bioplastics.html |title = One word: bioplastics |last = Trafton |first = Anne |publisher = MIT |date = 2009-11-17 |journal = MIT News Office |access-date= 2013-03-01}}</ref>

In April, 2012, Metabolix opened its first international office in Cologne, Germany. The office is strategically located in the BioCampus Cologne life science park, which has been one of Germany’s largest biotechnology parks since 2002.<ref name="Valigra"/> This office was opened to handle business development, customer service, and technical support to Metabolix’s European business partners and biopolymer customers.

===Current Work===
Metabolix, Inc. is developing and commercializing high-performance PHA biopolymers for film and bag applications, performance additives and functional biodegradation. Metabolix’s technology platforms are creating sustainable solutions in the world of plastics, chemicals and energy.<ref name="about"/> The company is also in the process of developing platforms to co-produce plastics, chemicals, and energy from crops <ref name="products">http://www.metabolix.com/products Products</ref>

===Awards===


In early 2017, Metabolix became Yield10 Bioscience, its crop research program.<ref>{{cite journal |url = https://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2017/01/08/switchcraft-metabolix-bioconverts-itself-into-yield10-focuses-on-crop-yields/ |title = Switchcraft: Metabolix bioconverts itself into Yield10, focuses on crop yields |last = Lane |first = Jim |date = 2017-01-08 |access-date= 2019-05-09}}</ref>
Metabolix has been recognized for its research, development and product innovations through a series of prestigious awards and grants including: the “Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award” (2005)<ref>{{cite Journal |url = http://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/pubs/docs/award_entries_and_recipients2005.pdf |title = The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Program |publisher = Environmental Protection Agency |work= The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Program: Summary of 2005 Award Entries and Recipients |date = 2005 |page=8 |accessdate= 2013-03-01}}</ref>, the "New Technologies in Renewable Materials and Processes Award” (2006)<ref>{{cite web |url = http://ir.metabolix.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=211087 |title = Metabolix Garners Environmental Award from Society of Plastics Engineers |last = Barber |first = James |publisher = Metabolix, Inc. |date = 2006-04-18 |accessdate= 2013-03-01}}</ref>, the “Technology Pioneer Award” (2010)<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.weforum.org/content/pages/list-technology-pioneers-2010 |title = List of Technology Pioneers 2010 |publisher = World Economic Forum | accessdate = 2013-03-01}}</ref>, and the Museum of Science Boston’s “Invented Here!” award (2011).<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.mos.org/invented-here |title = Invented Here! |publisher = Museum of Science Boston | accessdate = 2013-03-01}}</ref>


==Products==
==Products==


===Biopolymers===
===Crop technologies===


The centerpiece of the Metabolix's plant technology is [[polyhydroxybutyrate]] (PHB), the simplest member of the broad polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) family of biopolymers. They have worked with [[switchgrass]], [[camelina]], [[sugarcane]], as well as [[tobacco]].<ref name="Crop Technologies">{{Cite web|title=Yield10Bio|url=https://www.yield10bio.com/|access-date=2021-03-07|website=www.yield10bio.com|language=en}}</ref>
Metabolix performance PHA [[biopolymers]] are produced naturally in microorganisms, and are therefore biodegradable by similar organisms present in environments such as soil and water. <ref name="Winter">{{cite journal |url = http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/keeping-the-sea-safe-from-plastic-01052012.html |title = Keeping the Sea Safe from Plastic |last = Winter |first = Caroline |publisher = Bloomberg |date = 2012-01-05 |work = Bloomberg Businessweek |accessdate= 2013-03-01}}</ref>


In 2009, Metabolix completed a field trial producing PHA in a tobacco crop.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/2009/10/22/idUS228482+22-Oct-2009+BW20091022 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130411180534/http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/10/22/idUS228482+22-Oct-2009+BW20091022 |url-status = dead |archive-date = 2013-04-11 |title = Metabolix Completes Field Trial of Bioplastic-Producing Tobacco Crop |website = [[Reuters]] |date = 2009-10-22 |access-date = 2013-03-01}}</ref>
====Mirel====


In 2012, Metabolix secured an [[ARPA-E]] grant to improve productivity of biofuel production in plants, specifically camelina.<ref name="Seiffert_2">{{cite web |url = http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass-high-tech/2012/12/metabolix-stock-up-20-percent-after-arpa.html?page=all |title = Metabolix stock up 20 percent after ARPA-E grant |last = Seiffert |first = Don |publisher = Boston Business Journal |date = 2012-12-06 |work= Mass High Tech |access-date= 2013-03-01}}</ref>
Mirel soil and marine biodegradable polymers help to reduce plastic waste accumulation in the environment. Mirel is a product of corn sugar fermentation with proprietary genetically engineered bacteria.


In 2011, Metabolix was awarded a $6.0 million grant to produce PHB in switchgrass and to develop methods to thermally convert the PHB-containing switchgrass to crotonic acid and a higher density residual biomass fraction for production of biofuel.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://ir.yield10bio.com/static-files/2201fe9c-cb71-4ee9-a718-dd907883c720 |title = U.S. Department of Energy Awards Metabolix $6 Million Grant to Develop Renewable Biofuels |date = 2011-05-16 |access-date = 2013-03-01}}</ref>
In July 2007, Metabolix released a 100% biodegradable gift card product for Target. If put into a home composting area, the card would completely biodegrade in about 40 days. <ref name="DiGregorio>{{cite journal |author=Barry E. DiGregorio |title=Biobased Performance Bioplastic: Mirel |journal=Chemistry & Biology |volume=16 |year=2009 |month=January |doi=10.1016/j.chembiol.2009.01.001 |url = http://www.arch.columbia.edu/files/gsapp/imceshared/kmv2113/BiobasedPerformanceBioplasticMirel.pdf}}</ref> <ref>{{cite journal |url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1983894,00.html |title = The Promise and Pitfalls of Bioplastic |last = Dell |first = Kristina |publisher = Time |date = 2010-05-03 |work = Time Magazine |accessdate= 2013-03-01}}</ref>


In 2017, Yield10 participated in a Department of Energy program to help boost Camelina oilseed. <ref>{{cite web |url = https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2017/10m-doe-grant-to-help-boost-camelina-oilseed-yield/ |title = $10M DOE GRANT TO HELP BOOST CAMELINA OILSEED YIELD |last = Schnell |first = Danny |date = 2017-09-14 |access-date = 2019-05-09}}</ref>
In 2010, Metabolix began work with Ball Horticultural to create SoilWraps using Mirel.<ref name="Yoneda">{{cite web |title = Revolutionary Soil Wrap is a Flower Container You Can Plant |last = Yoneda |first = Yuka |publisher = inhabitat |date = 2012-04-17 |accessdate = 2013-03-01}}</ref> SoilWraps are bottomless biodegradable flower pots that can be planted directly in a home garden.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120423005456/en/Ball-Horticultural-Costa-Farms-Launch-Mirel-based-SoilWrap |title = Ball Horticultural and Costa Farms Launch New Mirel-based SoilWrap Biodegradable Plant Container |date = 2012-04-23 |accessdate = 2013-03-01}}</ref>


====Mvera====
===Platforms===


====C3====
Metabolix has designed the Mvera product line for applications including compost bags and can liners used for organic waste, as well as shopping and retail bags that can be reused as compostable organic waste bags. In 2012, Metabolix launched Mvera B5008, which is certified by [[Vin%C3%A7otte_(company)|Vinçotte]] to meet the EN 13432 standard for compostable plastics.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://ir.metabolix.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=724467 |title = Metabolix Now Shipping MveraTM B5008 Compostable Film Grade Resin |date = 2012-12-03 |accessdate = 2013-03-01}}</ref> The compostable film resin is designed for blown/cast film processing and exhibits many of the same performance qualities of petroleum-based resins.<ref name="Lane">{{cite journal |url = http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/biobased/2012/12/04/paper-plastic-or-mvera-metabolixs-new-compostable-resin-for-retail-shopping-trash-bags/ |title = Paper, plastic of Mvera? Metabolix's new compostable resin for retail shopping, trash bags |last = Lane |first= Jim |publisher = BioBasedDigest |date = 2012-12-04 |work = Time Magazine |accessdate= 2013-03-01}}</ref>
C3 is the most common form of photosynthesis, existing in most crops suitable for human consumption, including wheat, canola, soybean and rice.
In 2019 Yield10 announced results from its 2018 field test, claiming that its C3003 gene trait showed an 11% increase in seed yield among canola crops, when compared to control plants. Similarly, C3003 met its objectives for soybean yield, and showed an increase in Camelina.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=103694&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop= |title = Yield10 Bioscience reports encouraging results from 2018 field tests of C3003 and announces advancement of C3003 into commercial development for canola |date = 2019-01-15 |access-date= 2019-05-09}}</ref>


====C4====
In October 2011, Andolfi & C., an Italian films, packaging, and bags company, began using Mvera for a line of compostable plastic bags.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111024005049/en/Andolfi-Selects-Telles%E2%80%99-Mirel-Bioplastic-Film-Product |title = Andolfi Selects Telles' Mirel Bioplastic Film Product for New Line of Compostable Bags |date = 2011-10-24 |accessdate = 2013-03-01}}</ref>
C4 photosynthesis plants, like corn and sugar cane, possess a more complex system of metabolic pathways.<ref name="products">[https://www.yield10bio.com/crop-science/novel-crop-traits Novel Crop Traits]</ref>
In 2018, Yield reported promising results for its C3004 gene trait in Camelina lines, following growth chamber studies.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://sciencetrends.com/increasing-crop-yield-through-smart-approaches-in-trait-discovery/ |title = Increasing Crop Yield Through Smart Approaches In Trait Discovery |date = 2018-11-03 |access-date= 2019-05-09}}</ref>


===Biobased Chemicals===
====CRISPR====
Yield10 has also commenced development of CRISPR-enabled technology to impact crop yield. The company received a nonregulated status letter from the USDA-APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) acknowledging that its camelina line has had a gene disrupted using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, resulting in the desired phenotype.


====PHA-based Biomaterials====
Metabolix is working to create biochemicals that work as “drop in” replacements for petroleum-based products, with focus on C3 and C4 chemicals.<ref name="Biobased Chemicals"> http://www.metabolix.com/Products/Biobased-Chemicals Biobased Chemicals</ref>
In 2019, Yield10 filed a U.S. Patent application for new technology enabling low-cost production of PHA-based biomaterials, knowing for their use in water treatment to remove nitrogen and phosphates, to maintain the viability and vigor of Camelina seed.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://bioplasticsnews.com/2019/06/18/yield10-bioscience-files-patent-for-new-pha-biomaterials-technology/ |title = Yield10 Bioscience Files Patent For New PHA Biomaterials Technology |last = Barrett |first = Axel |date = 2019-06-18 |access-date= 2019-09-05}}</ref>


==Partnerships==
====Biobased GBL/BDO====
In 2018, Yield10 was granted a non-exclusive research license to CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology by DowDuPont’s agricultural business, Corteva Agriscience, and the non-profit Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://agrow.agribusinessintelligence.informa.com/AG030054/Yield10-gains-CRISPR-licence-from-DowDuPontBroad-Institute |title = Yield10 gains CRISPR licence from DowDuPont/Broad Institute |last = Beer |first = Andy |date = 2018-08-10 |access-date= 2019-05-09}}</ref>

The Company also has established a partnership with University of Missouri, exercising an option with the University to obtain exclusive worldwide licenses to advanced technologies for oilseed crops.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://techtransfercentral.com/2018/05/30/u-of-missouri-inks-license-for-gene-technologies-to-increase-oil-content-in-crops/ |title = U of Missouri inks license for gene technologies to increase oil content in crops |last = Schwartz |first = Jesse |date = 2018-05-30 |access-date= 2019-05-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.agri-pulse.com/articles/10492-the-promise-and-potential-for-new-plant-varieties |title = The promise and potential for new plant varieties |last = Wyant |first = Sara |date = 2018-01-22 |access-date= 2019-05-09}}</ref> The relationship expanded in 2019 to include a new gene target.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://finance.yahoo.com/news/yield10-bioscience-signs-exclusive-worldwide-123000358.html |title = Yield10 Bioscience Signs Exclusive Worldwide License with University of Missouri for Advanced Technology Used to Boost Oil Content in Crops |publisher = Globe Newswire |date = 2019-05-08 |access-date= 2019-05-09}}</ref> In 2018, Yield10 was granted a non-exclusive research license to Forage Genetics International, LLC, a subsidiary of Land O’Lakes, Inc., to conduct research with the novel traits within its forage sorghum development program as a strategy to improve biomass yields.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/09/21/1574300/0/en/Yield10-Bioscience-Grants-Research-License-to-Forage-Genetics-to-Evaluate-Novel-Yield-Traits-in-Sorghum.html |title = Yield10 Bioscience Grants Research License to Forage Genetics to Evaluate Novel Yield Traits in Sorghum |date = 2018-09-21 |access-date= 2019-09-05}}</ref>
[[Gamma-butyrolactone]] (GBL) and butanediol (BDO) are industrial chemicals produced from hydrocarbons: natural gas, oil, and other fossil-based sources. Metabolix has developed a system for producing renewable GBL using a proprietary FAST system. The GBL can then be converted to BDO via a catalytic process.<ref name="Biobased Chemicals"/>

====Biobased Acrylic Acid====

Metabolix is developing techniques to produce sustainable biobased acrylic acid. The company is currently developing the FAST process for recovering acrylic acid.<ref name="Biobased Acrylic Acid">http://www.metabolix.com/Products/Biobased-Chemicals/Chemical-Products/Bio-Based-Acrylic-Acid Biobased Acrylic Acid</ref>
===Crop Technologies===

The centerpiece of the Metabolix’s plant technology is [[polyhydroxybutyrate]] (PHB), the simplest member of the broad polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) family of biopolymers. They have worked with [[switchgrass]], [[camelina]], [[sugarcane]], as well as [[tobacco]].<ref name="Crop Technologies">http://www.metabolix.com/Products/Crop-based-Technologies Crop-based Technologies</ref>

In 2009, Metabolix completed a field trial producing PHA in a tobacco crop.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/10/22/idUS228482+22-Oct-2009+BW20091022 |title = Metabolix Completes Field Trial of Bioplastic-Producing Tobacco Crop |date = 2009-10-22 |accessdate = 2013-03-01}}</ref>

In 2012, Metabolix secured an [[ARPA-E]] grant to improve productivity of biofuel production in plants, specifically camelina.<ref name="Seiffert_2">{{cite web |url = http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass-high-tech/2012/12/metabolix-stock-up-20-percent-after-arpa.html?page=all |title = Metabolix stock up 20 percent after ARPA-E grant |last = Seiffert |first = Don |publisher = Boston Business Journal |date = 2012-12-06 |work= Mass High Tech |accessdate= 2013-03-01}}</ref>

In 2011, Metabolix was awarded a $6.0 million grant to produce PHB in switchgrass and to develop methods to thermally convert the PHB-containing switchgrass to crotonic acid and a higher density residual biomass fraction for production of biofuel.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://ir.metabolix.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=577904 |title = U.S. Department of Energy Awards Metabolix $6 Million Grant to Develop Renewable Biofuels |date = 2011-05-16 |accessdate = 2013-03-01}}</ref>

==Joint Venture==

In 2006, Metabolix and [[Archer Daniels Midland Company]] (ADM) announced a strategic alliance to manufacture and commercialize high-performance natural plastics.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://ir.metabolix.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=211091 |title = Metabolix and ADM Enter Strategic Alliance to Commercialize PHA Natural Polymers |date = 2004-11-04 |accessdate = 2013-03-01}}</ref>

On January 13, 2012 ADM announced that it was scrapping the joint venture. Metabolix's stock plunged 56% to $2.64 immediately following this announcement,<ref name="Lad">{{cite news |first = Divya |last = Lad |title = Metabolix hits life low as joint venture partner exits |url = http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/13/us-metabolixinc-shares-idUSTRE80C13N20120113 |location = Bangalore |work = Reuters |date = 2012-01-13}}</ref> leading to a class action suit.

===Lawsuit===
Following the collapse of the Telles joint venture, shareholders of Metabolix filed a class-action lawsuit claiming that executives knowingly misled them about the viability of the production process of Mirel. The case, Coyne et al v. Metabolix, Inc., was filed on February 17, 2012 in Boston's federal court, citing [[Securities Act of 1933#Civil liability|Section 12(a)(2)]] of the [[Securities Act of 1933]]. It names executives Eno and Hill in addition to Metabolix.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/MBLX.O/key-developments/article/2509314 |title = Block & Leviton LLP Files Securities Class Action Against Metabolix, Inc. |date = 2012-03-27 |accessdate = 2012-03-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://dockets.justia.com/docket/massachusetts/madce/1:2012cv10318/142176/ |title = Coyne et al v. Metabolix, Inc. |accessdate = 2012-10-04}}</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|30em}}


==References==
==References==
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
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}}
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| url = http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2008-08-13/i-have-just-one-word-for-you-bioplastics
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120816072511/http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2008-08-13/i-have-just-one-word-for-you-bioplastics
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = August 16, 2012
}}
}}
*{{Cite news
*{{Cite news
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| work = Reuters
| work = Reuters
| location = Bangalore
| location = Bangalore
| accessdate = 2013-02-25
| access-date = 2013-02-25
| date = 2012-01-13
| date = 2012-01-13
| url =http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/13/us-metabolixinc-shares-idUSTRE80C13N20120113
| url =https://www.reuters.com/article/us-metabolixinc-shares-idUSTRE80C13N20120113
}}
}}
*{{Cite web
*{{Cite web
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| title = Metabolix grows bioplastics in switchgrass
| title = Metabolix grows bioplastics in switchgrass
| work = CNET
| work = CNET
| accessdate = 2012-10-04
| access-date = 2012-10-04
| date = 2008-08-11
| date = 2008-08-11
| url = http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10014357-54.html
| url = http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10014357-54.html
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| title = Bioplastics Man
| title = Bioplastics Man
| work = Seed Magazine
| work = Seed Magazine
| accessdate = 2012-10-04
| access-date = 2012-10-04
| date = 2009-11-10
| date = 2009-11-10
| url = http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/bioplastics_man/P1/
| url = http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/bioplastics_man/P1/
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091113051632/http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/bioplastics_man/P1
}}
| url-status = unfit
*{{Cite news
| archive-date = 2009-11-13
| edition = ALL
| issn = 0738-5854
| pages = 23
| last = Szaniszlo
| first = Marie
| title = Bioplastics firm sued after major deal fails
| work = Boston Herald
| accessdate = 2012-10-04
| date = 2012-02-22
| url = http://bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view/20220222bioplastics_firm_sued_after_major_deal_fails
}}
}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}
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==External links==
==External links==


*[https://www.yield10bio.com/ Official website]
{{Company-stub}}
[[Category:Companies listed on the Nasdaq]]

[[Category:Bioplastics]]

Latest revision as of 07:27, 3 April 2023

Yield10 Bioscience
Nasdaq: YTEN
Headquarters
Woburn, MA
,
USA
Key people
Anthony J. Sinskey (Co-Founder), Oliver P. Peoples (CEO), Kristi Snell (CSO)
Websitewww.yield10bio.com

Yield10 Bioscience (formerly Metabolix, Inc.) is a company developing new technologies to achieve improvements in crop yield to enhance global food security.

History

[edit]

Founded in 1992, with the help of a licensing agreement with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),[1] Metabolix, Inc. is a bioscience company with headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Metabolix provides sustainable solutions to the plastic, chemical and energy industries. Oliver Peoples, Ph.D., and Anthony Sinskey, Ph.D., co-founded Metabolix after work at the (MIT) that identified the elementary methods and means for engineering polyhydroxyalkanoates production in plants and bacteria, thus making them biodegradable.[2]

In early 2017, Metabolix became Yield10 Bioscience, its crop research program.[3]

Products

[edit]

Crop technologies

[edit]

The centerpiece of the Metabolix's plant technology is polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), the simplest member of the broad polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) family of biopolymers. They have worked with switchgrass, camelina, sugarcane, as well as tobacco.[4]

In 2009, Metabolix completed a field trial producing PHA in a tobacco crop.[5]

In 2012, Metabolix secured an ARPA-E grant to improve productivity of biofuel production in plants, specifically camelina.[6]

In 2011, Metabolix was awarded a $6.0 million grant to produce PHB in switchgrass and to develop methods to thermally convert the PHB-containing switchgrass to crotonic acid and a higher density residual biomass fraction for production of biofuel.[7]

In 2017, Yield10 participated in a Department of Energy program to help boost Camelina oilseed. [8]

Platforms

[edit]

C3

[edit]

C3 is the most common form of photosynthesis, existing in most crops suitable for human consumption, including wheat, canola, soybean and rice. In 2019 Yield10 announced results from its 2018 field test, claiming that its C3003 gene trait showed an 11% increase in seed yield among canola crops, when compared to control plants. Similarly, C3003 met its objectives for soybean yield, and showed an increase in Camelina.[9]

C4

[edit]

C4 photosynthesis plants, like corn and sugar cane, possess a more complex system of metabolic pathways.[10] In 2018, Yield reported promising results for its C3004 gene trait in Camelina lines, following growth chamber studies.[11]

CRISPR

[edit]

Yield10 has also commenced development of CRISPR-enabled technology to impact crop yield. The company received a nonregulated status letter from the USDA-APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) acknowledging that its camelina line has had a gene disrupted using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, resulting in the desired phenotype.

PHA-based Biomaterials

[edit]

In 2019, Yield10 filed a U.S. Patent application for new technology enabling low-cost production of PHA-based biomaterials, knowing for their use in water treatment to remove nitrogen and phosphates, to maintain the viability and vigor of Camelina seed.[12]

Partnerships

[edit]

In 2018, Yield10 was granted a non-exclusive research license to CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology by DowDuPont’s agricultural business, Corteva Agriscience, and the non-profit Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.[13] The Company also has established a partnership with University of Missouri, exercising an option with the University to obtain exclusive worldwide licenses to advanced technologies for oilseed crops.[14][15] The relationship expanded in 2019 to include a new gene target.[16] In 2018, Yield10 was granted a non-exclusive research license to Forage Genetics International, LLC, a subsidiary of Land O’Lakes, Inc., to conduct research with the novel traits within its forage sorghum development program as a strategy to improve biomass yields.[17]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "Metabolix, Inc. Annual Report 2013". 2014-03-28. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  2. ^ Trafton, Anne (2009-11-17). "One word: bioplastics". MIT News Office. MIT. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  3. ^ Lane, Jim (2017-01-08). "Switchcraft: Metabolix bioconverts itself into Yield10, focuses on crop yields". Retrieved 2019-05-09. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ "Yield10Bio". www.yield10bio.com. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  5. ^ "Metabolix Completes Field Trial of Bioplastic-Producing Tobacco Crop". Reuters. 2009-10-22. Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  6. ^ Seiffert, Don (2012-12-06). "Metabolix stock up 20 percent after ARPA-E grant". Mass High Tech. Boston Business Journal. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  7. ^ "U.S. Department of Energy Awards Metabolix $6 Million Grant to Develop Renewable Biofuels". 2011-05-16. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  8. ^ Schnell, Danny (2017-09-14). "$10M DOE GRANT TO HELP BOOST CAMELINA OILSEED YIELD". Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  9. ^ "Yield10 Bioscience reports encouraging results from 2018 field tests of C3003 and announces advancement of C3003 into commercial development for canola". 2019-01-15. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  10. ^ Novel Crop Traits
  11. ^ "Increasing Crop Yield Through Smart Approaches In Trait Discovery". 2018-11-03. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  12. ^ Barrett, Axel (2019-06-18). "Yield10 Bioscience Files Patent For New PHA Biomaterials Technology". Retrieved 2019-09-05.
  13. ^ Beer, Andy (2018-08-10). "Yield10 gains CRISPR licence from DowDuPont/Broad Institute". Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  14. ^ Schwartz, Jesse (2018-05-30). "U of Missouri inks license for gene technologies to increase oil content in crops". Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  15. ^ Wyant, Sara (2018-01-22). "The promise and potential for new plant varieties". Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  16. ^ "Yield10 Bioscience Signs Exclusive Worldwide License with University of Missouri for Advanced Technology Used to Boost Oil Content in Crops". Globe Newswire. 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  17. ^ "Yield10 Bioscience Grants Research License to Forage Genetics to Evaluate Novel Yield Traits in Sorghum". 2018-09-21. Retrieved 2019-09-05.

References

[edit]
[edit]
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