Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) has provided notice to the Chicago Stock Exchange of its intention to delist all of its shares from that exchange. In a statement released yesterday (7th April) the company explained that it will continue to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange, its primary listing exchange, under ticker symbol ADM.

ADM explained that it is withdrawing from the Chicago Stock Exchange because it does not need a secondary listing on the Chicago Stock Exchange given its ongoing primary listing on the New York Stock Exchange. The withdrawal is expected to be effective in approximately three weeks.

A biofuels analysis guide, 'The Essential Guide for Biofuel Analysis', has been published by the Californian-based company Phenomenex. The guide provides technology information and troubleshooting tips for biofuel production monitoring and QC analysis, says the company. 

“Phenomenex is unique in biofuel analysis because we offer both HPLC and GC solutions,” explained Ngoc Nguyen, brand manager.  “In addition to the broad product suite, we are known for customer service and support, which is very important to this new and growing field.”

The 12-page booklet is available free of charge via e-mail request to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Swedish paper manufacturer, Grycksbo Paper, is to invest 130 million SEK (approx $21.5m) to install a biomass boiler, which will meet the paper mill’s entire need for steam when it comes on-line during the second half of 2009. The new system, which will replace an existing oil-fired boiler, comprises the conversion of the present oil-fuelled boiler into a biomass boiler, a new handling and biofuel storage area, a filter for smoke gas cleaning and renovation of the existing turbine to produce environmentally responsible electricity.

Work has started on a biofuels conversion facility in Bryan, Texas, that will test the scaled-up, commercial feasibility of Terrabon's MixAlco™ technology. The MixAlco technology uses non-food feedstocks such as municipal solid waste, sewage sludge, forest product residues and non-edible energy crops to create acetic acid and alcohols that may be converted into fuel. The new semi-works demonstration plant is designed to confirm the engineering for the technology on a larger scale.

A $10 million equity investment by Marathon Oil in Mascoma was announced yesterday (6th May) as part of the $61 million raised in Mascoma’s third round of funding round. With the completion of this round of financing, Mascoma has raised approximately $100 million in equity investment. The company has also received commitments for over $100 million in state and federal grants, including the recent awarding of a $26 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Mariann Fischer Boel, the European Commissioner responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development, took the media to task this week for using biofuels as a scapegoat for the food price crisis.  Speaking at the Policy dialogue on biofuels organised by European Policy Centre, Fischer Boel said;  "Right now, a storm is blowing. Of course, Europe has seen many storms over the last year or two – whether because of climate change or more familiar factors. But over this period, I have seen no storm as ferocious as the recent media storm about biofuels.

A $300 million investment commitment, to fund the construction of four, next generation, bio-refining facilities, has been made by the private equity group First Reserve Corporation to Osage Bio Energy

"We are extremely excited about this milestone and our partnership with First Reserve. Their commitment confirms the validity of Osage Bio Energy’s unique business model and provides us the financial resources, as well as industry expertise, to make our plans a reality," said Craig Shealy, President & CEO of Osage Bio Energy.

A lack of investment in agriculture over a long period has contributed to the current global food crisis, according to a United Nations expert. Speaking at a news conference in New York yesterday (6th April) Kathleen Abdalla, of the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) said  that while populations have grown and diets have changed, "we've had a lack of investment in agriculture for quite a long time now and a lack of aid for agriculture. Certainly it's not been a high priority for development assistance and basically the productivity growth hasn't kept pace with the increase in demand."