The company established by various cooperatives and supported by Mitsubishi was established in 2007 in Shimizu, Hokkaido. Originally based on sugar beet as C-source, business was troubled by poor beet harvests and a growing reluctance to use edible raw materials for gasoline production. With growing operating losses and reduced public support, the shareholders decided in June to liquidate the company.

Nikkei Biotech news release, June 25, 2015