Iogen was founded by Patrick Foody Sr. a successful entrepreneur, engineer, and innovator. In 1975, he pioneered a novel “steam explosion” process to make wood digestible to grazing animals. In the late 70's, he adapted the process to make a wide range of cellulosic materials highly digestible to enzymes for the production of biofuels. The company continues to pursue his dream of leading an energy revolution.

Iogen Development Timeline

2015 – Official launch of the Costa Pinto mill, the first commercial facility employing Iogen’s cellulosic ethanol technology.

2014 – Iogen Corporation and Raízen announce they have begun production of cellulosic ethanol on schedule at Raízen`s sugar cane mill in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. The $105 million facility converts biomass such as sugar cane bagasse and straw into 40 million litres per year of second generation cellulosic biofuel. It is the first large-scale commercial implementation of Iogen Energy’s cellulosic ethanol technology which Iogen developed and proved in its Ottawa demonstration plant.

2014 – Iogen Corporation announces it has developed and patented a new method to make drop-in cellulosic biofuels from biogas using existing refinery assets and production operations.

2013 – Iogen Corporation sells Iogen Bio-Products, its industrial enzymes business, to Danish enzyme manufacturer Novozymes for $80 million. The sale did not include process technology assets that relate to Iogen's cellulosic biofuels business. In 2013, Iogen sells its commercial enzyme business to Novozymes.

2013 – Raízen begins construction of a cellulosic ethanol facility using Iogen technology in Brazil. The facility is located adjacent to Raízen's Costa Pinto mill. Raízen says it plans to expand to eight cellulosic ethanol plants using Iogen's technology.

2012 – Iogen Energy (IE) becomes a 50/50 jointly owned venture between Iogen Corp and Raízen Energia S/A, a $12 billion joint venture between Royal Dutch Shell and Brazilian ethanol company Cosan S.A., and enters a research agreement with Raízen focused on commercialization of the IE technology in Brazil. Iogen initiates work with Raízen to develop a commercial cellulosic ethanol project in Brazil. 

2012 – Shell announces termination of its pursuit of a cellulosic ethanol project in Canada.

2012 – Iogen cellulosic ethanol production at its Ottawa, Canada demonstration plant tops 2.1 million litres (561,000 gallons).

2010 – Iogen’s cellulosic ethanol fuels UK-based Drayson Racing to its first American Le Mans Series Michelin® Green X® Challenge victory. Iogen provided its cellulosic ethanol to Drayson Racing for use throughout the entire American Le Mans Series 2010 season. The win in Utah was a first for cellulosic E85 fuel in the prototype category.

2010 – Shell and Cosan announce the intent to form a Brazilian joint venture, ultimately named Raízen, which would be the country's leading sugar processor, ethanol producer, and fuels retailer. Shell also announces intent to transfer its holdings in Iogen Energy to Raízen.

2009 – Iogen becomes the first cellulosic biofuel producer to sell its advanced biofuel at a retail service station. For a one month period, a 10% cellulosic ethanol blend was available for sale to the general public at an Ottawa Shell station. More than 60,000 litres of Iogen Energy's cellulosic ethanol was sold.

2007 – Volkswagen invests $10 million in Iogen, and participates in a 3-way study with Shell on the potential for commercializing Iogen technology in Germany.

2006 – Goldman Sachs invests $40 million in Iogen.

2004 – Iogen initiates commercial sale of cellulosic ethanol from its demonstration plant. Over the following years, Iogen invests in several rounds of demonstration plant upgrades, solving production scale-up issues and developing comprehensive design information.

2002 – After a worldwide search for leading technology, Shell makes an initial commitment of $46 million to invest in developing Iogen cellulosic biofuel technology. This investment is done through a jointly owned company, Iogen Energy. Shell continued to invest in Iogen technology the next 10 years.

1999 – With $15.8 million investment from Petro Canada and $10 million from Technology Partnerships Canada, Iogen initiates construction of the world's first demonstration-scale plant for making sugar from cellulose using an enzymatic process. Enzymes for the facility are produced using Iogen technology and the facilities Iogen built for its specialty enzymes business.

1997 – Kyoto Protocol signed. GHG emissions reduction potential for cellulosic biofuels gains attention.

1991 – Iogen forms an alliance with Amoco for the development of cellulosic technology. The companies conduct technology screening program, develop a range of technologies, upgrade the pilot plant, and operate on many feedstocks including wood, waste paper, and crop residues. The relationship ended in 1995 when Amoco terminated alternative fuels development.

1990 – Iogen enters the commercial enzymes business, focusing on producing enzymes that digest natural fiber. Over the next twenty years, this business grows to serve customers around the world, focusing on leadership in fiber digesting enzymes, commercializing products worldwide in textiles, pulp & paper, animal feed, grain processing and food processing. Iogen concurrently develops enzymes for its cellulosic ethanol process.

1986 – Oil prices tumble. Iogen Corp. is formed; work refocuses on biofuels R&D and commercial enzyme business.

1982 – Company builds an integrated cellulosic ethanol pilot plant, capacity 1 tonne/day wood.

1980 – Company initiates research on enzymes and biotechnology.

1978 – US DOE contracts to investigate the performance of steam explosion for energy production. The process is found to deliver superior results compared with the prior state of the art pretreatments.

1975 – Patrick Foody Sr. initiates work on a “steam explosion” process to improve cellulose digestibility for use as animal feed.