Bioenergy sales gives Novozymes strong Q1 results

April 24, 2014, Franklinton, N.C. – Novozymes is reporting strong financial results from the first quarter of 2014, as sales of enzymes to the
bioenergy industry increase by 34% as customers embrace new technology. Three
enzymes that promise to improve profits for producers of corn ethanol are behind
the strong growth in Novozymes’ first quarter bioenergy sales. Avantec®, Spirizyme® Achieve and Olexa®
enable producers to squeeze up to 5% more ethanol out of corn while saving on
energy and chemicals.

Avantec was introduced to the market in October 2012, while
Spirizyme Achieve was launched in June 2013 along with Olexa, a solution that
works by freeing up oil bound in the corn germ. In addition to increasing
ethanol yield, the three enzymes can improve corn oil extraction by 13%, while
saving 8% energy. This helps ethanol producers to improve profit margins and
efficiency, and reduce their environmental footprint.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that
U.S. fuel ethanol production grew by 11% in the first quarter of 2014 compared
with the same period last year. The U.S. remains the world’s biggest biofuels
producer, and with ethanol accounting for approximately 10% of gasoline
consumption in the U.S. today, the continuous development of such a renewable
fuel aids the battle against climate change.

“The biofuel industry is continuing to develop and our
journey to increase yields is not yet done,” says Niels Miles Frandsen,
marketing director for bioenergy at Novozymes, “We will continue to provide our
customers with new technology that improves their business.”