Activities and Results
Sunchem Holding
Sunchem Holding is a research and development company driven to develop
the next generation of sustainable energy crops
For this purpose Sunchem Holding created, through targeted selection, a GMO
free tobacco variety called Solaris
Solaris does not contain nicotine and is therefore unfit to grow traditional leaf
tobacco, it is characterized by low leaf and high seed production; the
separation and pressing of seed generates oil for biofuels, press cake for
animal feed and dry biomass for energy generation
As a result of multiple annual harvests and related high yields per hectare, the
carbon reduction potential of Solaris exceeds all other energy crops
Sunchem Holding holds the exclusive rights to exploit and globally develop the
industrial patent for “energy tobacco” (PCT/IB/2007/053412); the patent has
been deposited in 119 countries and has been granted in over 70 countries
(USA, all African Countries, EuroAsia, Italy, Russia)
Mission - Vision - Values
Mission
To develop and promote through traditional
targeted selection next generation energy crops
that are deployed in a socially & environmentally
sustainable manner
Vision
To become a global supply chain leader
in the biofuels market
Values
Our key values are:
- Innovation through research & development
- Social and environmental sustainability
Energy Tobacco
The Solaris tobacco variety maximizes the
production of flowers and seed and has
reduced growth of leaf
Solaris is very robust, it can be cultivated in a
variety of climates and soils, amongst others
on marginal lands unsuitable for food
production
Solaris’ yields
One hectare of Solaris generates an average of 3 tons of seed per harvest,
subject suitable conditions 3 or more harvests per year can be obtained
Seed contains 40% oil, through cold pressing up to 33% oil and 67% protein
cake can be extracted
In addition 1 to 2 tons of dry biomass per hectare and per harvest result
from the seed separation process
Alternatively 60-100 tons per hectare of fresh biomass can be harvested for
the production of biogas
Product applications
TOBOIL, a crude oil for energy production, biodiesel and
bio jet fuel
Press cake for animal feed
Biomass for the generation of electricity and heat - the
calorific value of the dry biomass amounts to 3.800
kcal/kg and for the generation of biogas - fresh biomass
produces 190 m3 of gas with 54% methane
Integrated Value Chain
Sunchem History
2012-2013-2014 –
Sunchem enters in the
pre-industrial phase
Time
2010-2011 – Sunchem
further consolidates test
results and knowledge of
agro-practice, oil, cake
and biomass
2007-2008-2009 –
Sunchem tests the plant in
different countries:
Romania, Brazil, USA,
Bulgaria, Egypt, Italy and
Algeria
2003 – Prof. Corrado Fogher
designs a variety of seed
Understanding of
tobacco that leads to the
technology and
founding of Sunchem in
product grows
2007 for development of
international patent
PCT/IB/2007/053412
The starting principle is
developing a strong
scientific foundation
1990-2002 – founding partner of
Sunchem, plant genetist Prof.
Corrado Fogher worked on the
analysis, genetics and DNA of
Development
Energy Tobacco
Sunchem expands
knowledge and
improves its
international
network
Sunchem develops a
stable agro-protocol,
has deep knowledge
of its products and
engages strong
partnerships
Italy
Since 2008 Sunchem Holding pursued testing at
many different sites in order to refine the
agronomic protocol for different latitudes, soil and
climate conditions
In 2012, more than 400 hectares on one site have
been cultivated to support setting agronomic
parameters for larger scale operations
In 2013, the base-case production of seed has
stabilized between 2.5 and 3 tons per hectare per
harvest, however sites in Africa reach over 4 tons
of seed per harvest showing substantial upside
can be achieved with ongoing improvement in
plant variety and choice of location
Activity selection and
variety improvements
A large variety of plants are followed throughout their development during
which different parameters are recorded. Inflorescences from the most
productive plants are collected and evaluated, after which again the most
promising lines are selected for selfing
Following plant selection, the reproduction
capacity is tested in test fields
Sunchem’s partner “Plantechno”
is managing the genetics and
the selection process
Various other lines from the plant’s
germoplasm (collection of genetic resources)
and crosses aimed at increasing productivity
are also being evaluated
Various plant lines of tobacco are
being grown to either select highly
productive and stable Solaris lines
or to evaluate their characteristics
to continue the breeding of new
varieties. Two test sites with
different soil characteristics (clay
and sandy) are used, where plants
from the following lines are being
grown and their development and
yields followed carefully
•
Lines N1, N2 and N3: The core of the selection project. These are
three Solaris lines that were selected in 2012 that have reached
production between 400 and 500gr of seed per plant over two
harvests and were chosen as next plants for the selection 2014
•
Between 280 and 300 plants per line were transplanted per field
•
Lines A1, A2 and A3: Three lines originated with an intra-specific
cross aimed at increasing oil production
•
Lines Ca and Cb: Lines originated with an intra-specific cross
between high-yield seed varieties
•
Lines II1and II17: Lines originated with an INTER-specific cross and
colchicine treatment. Their phenotype has been evaluated under
field conditions
•
Line G1: Tobacco from Plantechno’s germoplasm, characterized by
extremely large capsules. Their phenotype has been evaluated
under field conditions
•
Line PLT103: A tobacco variety originally used in the crosses that
were undertaken in the generation of the Solaris variety. Grown for
comparison with the different lines grown this year (positive
control)
•
Line O1: Early variant of Solaris obtained in 2007. Grown for
comparison with the different lines grown this year and original
lines (second positive control)
•
Lines PLTA4, PLTA56, PLTA60, PLTA61, PLTA65 and PLTA88:
Germoplasm lines grown to evaluate their phenotype under field
conditions. Photographic evidence from past years suggests high
seed production
Production results
selection lines 2013
1° Harvest
2° Harvest
Total
Seed gr.
Line
n. capsules
Seed gr.
Line
n. capsules
Seed gr.
SN3P38
1143
147.5
SN3P38
1212
308
455.5
SN3O42
1187
172.5
SN3O42
1345
275
447.5
PN1S25
1059
229
PN1S25
872
176
405
SN3S38
972
122
SN3S38
1016
206
328
SN1D44
815
128.9
SN1D44
937
135
263.9
SN3P38
1°
2°
1°
SN3O42
2°
PN1S25
1°
1°
SN1D44
2°
SN3S38
2°
The results in USA with
2013 Solaris
Field Site 1
Field Site 2
Field Site 3
Henry County, VA
(Mountain Valley Organics)
Callands, VA
(Briar View Farm)
Plankinton, SD
Seed Yield
6K = 682kg/acre 12K= 714kg/acre 24K= 861kg/acre
SOUTH AFRICA
2013-14
MARBLE HALL (LIMPOPO REGION)
Farm: “Terblanche Boerdery” of Jannie Terblanche
Farm: “Nyawa Boerdery” of Peter Kok
Transplantation: (30 – 09 – 2013)
1° Harvesting: (02 – 02 – 2014)
SEED PRODUCTION 1° HARVEST: 3,8 – 4,5 TON/ha
BRASIL 2013 – 2014
RIO GRANDE du SOL
MINAS GERAIS
Rio Pardo
Uberlandia
Mocambigno
In the states of Minas Gerais and Rio Grande, 3 hectares of Solaris were
cultivated on 3 separate sites
The combination of skilled farming and Sunchem’s technical expertise
resulted in a increase of more than 50% in productivity year over year.
EGYPT
In the period between 2006 and 2011 Sunchem started
a fruitful collaboration with the University of Cairo and the Egyptian Ministry of
Agriculture. Cultivations were made in the Giza and El- Bustan regions, with the
University of Cairo involved in studying the different characteristics of Solaris
Based on favorable climate conditions and with drop fed irrigation 5 harvests of 3
tons per hectare were reached, for the first time exceeding a total of 10 tons and
showing the continuous harvesting potential
Unfortunately, after the Arab spring of 2012 a large part of this important work
has stalled, nevertheless the accumulated technical data remain a reference
Sunchem is still working with The University in the context of an international EU
project on biofuels
NAMIBIA
In collaboration with the Namibian government and
related to the electricity constrains and need for labor in
the country an initiative was launched to construct a 5
MW biogas installation for which Solaris will be the prime
feedstock
With 60 to 80 tons of fresh biomass per hectare per
harvest Solaris delivers a solid feedstock alternative,
given high sugar and oil content gas production yields are
over 190 m3 /ton
Trials to date show similar production volume of around 3
tons of seed per harvest with a minimum of 3 harvests
year
BULGARIA 2013
In Bulgaria Sunchem
cultivated 20 hectares of
Solaris on 3 different sites, 2
harvests with an average of 3
tons per hectare resulted
Results of the 2013 trial were presented at the AGRO-CONFERENCE START TRANSNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR SME BUSINESS
SUPPORT SERVICES IN THE ANIMAL BREEDING AND HORTICULTURE SECTORS
14 November 2013, Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan, Sofia, Bulgaria
Sunchem Holding Team
Massimo Ghilardi (President)
Dr. Sergio Tommasini (Managing Director)
Dr. Michael Knap (Strategy Committee)
The operational team:
Nicola Fogher (Agro Technician)
Dr. Francesco Di Lucia (Agronomist)
Dr. Massimo Zuin (Agronomist)
Prof. Milvio Avogadro (Engineering and Process)
D.ssa Serena Reggi, PhD (Genetics)
Dr. Stefano Gattolin, PhD (Genetics)
Dr. Kiril Perfanov (Genetics)
D.ssa Nicoletta di Norscia, PhD Student (bio-energy expert)
Eng. Andrea Vaccaro (environment)
Dr. Mauro Finguerra (international tax)
Dr. Pietro Busi (financial management)
Massimo Mela (accountanting)
Avv. Paolo Cecchi (International law)
D.ssa Valentina Predazzi – SIB (Patent)
Every partner company
around the world has a
specific team to follow-up on the
Sunchem Holding objectives
Sunchem Network
Sunchem USA – Tyton (Partner Tyton Bioscience Corporation)
Tyton BioSciences Corp. is located at the Dan River Business Development Center on Ringgold
Industrial Park West, off Highway 729 (Kentuck Road) in Pittsylvania Country.
Point of Contact: Dr. Peter Majeranowski ( pmajeranowski@tytonbio.com ), Dr. Iulian Bobe, PhD
( ibobe@tytonbio.com )
*** *** ***
Sunchem Terasol Oleos Ltda (Partner Terasol LLC and Argos Oil BV)
Terasol is located in Rua Prof. Joao Mendes Franca 155, Sala 07 Bairro Morumbi, San Paulo Brazil
Point of Contact: Dr. Henrique Hubrig hubrig@terasolenergy.com), Dr. Carlos Claro
(carlose.claro@gmail.com)
*** *** ***
Sunchem South Africa Ltd (Partner AtlasInvest N.V.)
Point of Contact: Dr. Michael Knap (mk@atlasinvest.eu) Eng. Joost Van Lier
(joost.van.lier@blueworldcarbon.com)
*** *** ***
Sunchem Alpha Namibia Ltd (partner Otjozondjupa Holdings Ltd)
Otjozondjupa has located in Windhoek, Namibia.
Point of contact: Dr. Zedekias Gowaseb (agab@cheetahcement.na)
*** *** ***
Sunchem Bulgaria (Partner Tae Ltd)
Point of contact: Dr. Svetlin Stoev (enertab@gmail.com)
In addition to the countries were Sunchem conducted trials, starting in 2012 working
relationships have been developed with many organizations interested in conducting
agricultural trials of Solaris, discussions on further development are ongoing in
-ARGENTINA
-ECUADOR
-VENEZUELA
-PERU
-NICARAGUA
-URUGUAY
-SPAIN
-MACEDONIA
-ALBANIA
-TURKEY
-GHANA
-ANGOLA
-ZAMBIA
-ZIMBABWE
-MOZAMBIQUE
A project for agro-energy innovation
Through innovation challenging new technological frontiers
for a new vision on agriculture and energy