Yulex, PanAridus 'hot' firms in advanced bioeconomy

PHOENIX (June 16, 2015) — Guayule development companies Yulex Corp. and PanAridus L.L.C. have been named among the “35 Hottest Companies in Feedstock Development and Supply” by Biofuels Digest magazine.

Yulex was No. 23 on the list, and PanAridus was No. 29, according to the Biofuels Digest website.

Both companies said they were delighted to be on the list.

“Since we started our research five years ago with the largest privately owned bank of guayule germplasm in the world, we've quadrupled the yield per acre we harvest and cut the time it takes to grow a mature guayule bush,” said PanAridus CEO Michael Fraley.

A Yulex spokeswoman noted her company has received recognition several times recently from Biofuels Digest. This year Yulex was No. 5 in the magazine's 40 Hottest Smaller Companies in the Advanced Bioeconomy and No. 28 in the 30 Hottest 

Companies in Renewable Chemicals and Biomaterials, she said.

Also, Yulex CEO Jeff Martin was named one of the 125 Top People in the Advanced Bioeconomy, she said.

Guayule is a shrub native to Mexico and the southwestern U.S. that several companies — including Yulex and PanAridus — are developing for its high-quality natural rubber. The bagasse (stems, leaves and bark) and resins from guayule show substantial promise as biofuels.