An industrial enzyme factory founded by CONICET scientists, a pioneer in South America

In Argentina, a team of CONICET scientists achieved what once seemed impossible: creating a company capable of revolutionizing key industries through the development of industrial enzymes. From its plant in Santa Fe, Keclon has become a benchmark in applied biotechnology, exporting its products to international markets and offering innovative solutions for sectors such as food, oilseed, biofuels, cosmetics, and biomedicine. This success story is not only an example of technology transfer but also of how science and industry can collaborate to generate economic and environmental benefits with major impact.

The origin of Keclon: a solution for biodiesel sediment

In 2012, a group of biotechnologists from the Institute of Biotechnological and Chemical Processes (IPROBYQ) of CONICET decided to tackle a crucial problem affecting biodiesel production in Argentina, one of the world’s top producers of this fuel. Sediment in biodiesel was a challenge for the industry, as it affected the quality of the final product. Drawing on their knowledge of enzymes, the scientists devised a method to eliminate these sediments using synthetic enzymes—protein molecules capable of efficiently performing this task. This was the beginning of Keclon, a Technology-Based Company (TBC) created to apply biotechnology to solve industrial problems.

In a record time of just six months, the team developed a synthetic enzyme capable of breaking down biodiesel sediments, improving its quality. However, Argentina’s political and economic context quickly changed: government restrictions led to a drop in biodiesel production, forcing the scientists to rethink their goals. At that moment, Molinos Agro—one of the leading soybean processing companies in Argentina—approached Keclon with a new request: to use their enzymes to improve the soybean oil refining process.

Applied innovation: the enzymatic solution for oil refining

Molinos Agro’s challenge was clear: to reduce soybean oil refining costs and improve process productivity. During refining, crude oil needed to be purified, which caused significant waste and environmental impact. The enzymes developed by Keclon proved key to optimizing this process. With these enzymes, waste was reduced, more oil was recovered, and production yield improved by 2.5%.

Though the percentage may seem small, the impact was enormous. With an installed capacity of ten million tons of soybean oil annually, an additional 2.5% meant 250,000 extra tons of oil. This improvement allowed companies not only to increase their productivity but also to reduce environmental impact. Economically, the benefit for the country was substantial—an estimated 500 million extra dollars—generated by higher efficiency in oil production and export.

This project not only established Keclon as a strategic supplier for Molinos Agro, but also attracted investment from the company, which became a Keclon shareholder. From there, the company began to expand rapidly.

Keclon’s growth and global impact

Since its founding, Keclon has continued to grow. In 2021, it inaugurated a new plant in San Lorenzo, Santa Fe, with a fermentation capacity of 65,000 liters, allowing it to produce tons of enzymes for various global industries. Today, Keclon has a team of nearly 80 employees—many of them CONICET-trained scientists—working daily to develop advanced biotechnology solutions. These enzymes are used in industries such as food, oil, biofuels, cosmetics, and biomedicine.

Keclon’s innovation not only helps reduce company costs but also increases international competitiveness. The technologies developed by the company optimize production processes, reduce environmental impact, and generate foreign revenue for Argentina through enzyme exports. Menzella, IPROBYQ director and one of Keclon’s founders, emphasizes that the company’s success lies in its ability to solve real problems in the private sector. Collaboration with companies like Molinos Agro was essential to turning scientific research into applicable, high-value solutions.

Keclon has positioned itself as a leader in the field of industrial enzymes, developing products aligned with international standards. According to Francisco Colombatti, Molinos Agro’s innovation leader, Keclon has shown a unique ability to solve industrial challenges with a biotechnological approach, delivering high-quality solutions at a much more competitive cost than international firms.