Danimer Secures SBIR Grant to Explore Pennycress Oil for Sustainable PHA Bioplastics

Danimer Scientific, the manufacturer of Nodax polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biodegradable bioplastics, has secured a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to investigate pennycress oil as a renewable feedstock.

Beginning in July, Danimer will collaborate with the University of Minnesota’s Forever Green Initiative to evaluate whether pennycress oil can supplement the company’s existing canola oil supply. Researchers will compare oil extracted from wild‑type pennycress seeds with that from domesticated winter‑cover‑crop varieties, aiming to determine the most efficient and sustainable source for PHA production.

The outcomes will inform commercial models that enable manufacturers to produce biodegradable drinking straws, cutlery, packaging, and other single‑use items from PHA derived from pennycress.

“PHA’s unique advantage lies in its ability to be produced from renewable plant oils and sugars rather than fossil fuels,” said Danimer Scientific Chief Science & Technology Officer Phil Van Trump. “We are eager to explore pennycress oil’s potential for our manufacturing process. Our partners at the Forever Green Initiative bring unparalleled expertise on this crop, and together we aim to accelerate the transition to renewable, biodegradable plastics.”

Dr. M. David Marks, professor of plant & microbiology at the University of Minnesota, highlighted the initiative’s recent success in domesticating pennycress without genetic engineering. “Our goal is to develop winter‑hardy cover crops that fit existing farming cycles and create reliable economic incentives for growers,” he said. “Partnering with Danimer Scientific provides a pathway for manufacturers to build products around these crops.”

Danimer’s Nodax biopolymer already holds six TUV Austria certifications for industrial and home compostability, is fully biodegradable in soil, fresh water, and marine environments, and is FDA‑approved for food contact.