Then and Now: 120 Bioeconomy Pioneers look at yesterday, today, inspirations and challenges

Jeff Lievense

Then:  I was VP, Technology & Process Development at Tate & Lyle. The 1,3-Propanediol plant (with DuPont) was in its 3rd quarter of production after a successful start-up. The groundwork was in place for future technology breakthroughs in Splenda sucralose production leading to much higher process yields and lower costs. Also on sucralose, I was contributing to a product authentication project as part of an effort to enforce the company’s process patents. Lastly, I was investing energy to support new commercial fermentation initiatives in astaxanthin and xanthan gum. For various reasons, including frequent calls from recruiters, I was thinking about leaving Tate & Lyle after 13 years in favor of a position at an industrial biotech start-up. The sector was hot, and it seemed the action was in biotech hubs like the Bay Area.

Now: I am Senior Advisor to the CEO at Genomatica, two months past my 5-year anniversary with the company. In this position, I serve as a domain expert, internal consultant, key contributor on new initiatives, and an external champion. It’s truly enjoyable. I’ve always been a techie at heart and now get to focus on that. It’s been great to watch Genomatica’s expertise grow as it developed its landmark 1,4-butanediol process. Last month, we announced that our process met its performance guarantees at Novamont’s plant in Italy. Now we’re on to piloting our next new product; growing our alliance with Ginkgo Bioworks; and building a robust opportunity pipeline. Genomatica also allows me to do some independent consulting.

Inspirations: Currently, I’m helping 4 start-up companies and also doing some technical due diligence work for a private investment company. After all these years in the sector, it feels like industrial biotech is building real positive momentum now.

It’s always been the same for me. There has to be a better way to make fuels and chemicals than from fossil feedstocks – for the benefit of sustaining the health and prosperity of humankind. That’s been my passion since I fell into the bio option of chemical engineering at the University of Michigan in 1977. Back then I read a book, “Too Many: a Study of the Earth’s Biological Limitations,” Georg Borgstrom, 1969. Three weeks ago I read another book, “Abundance” (The Future is Better Than you Think), Diamandis & Kotler, 2012. It’s a compelling pitch that the best is yet to come through exponential growth in technology, including industrial biotechnology. Stay tuned!

Challenges:  Just three things:

1) the unpredictability of oil prices;

2) the recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass as an economically competitive substitute for fossil feedstocks;

2) the cost and time to engineer microbes to their full economic potential.

Imagine when 2) and 3) change for the better and beyond their tipping points.