BP has signed a Joint Development Agreement with Martek Biosciences Corporation to develop biodiesel. US biofuels specialist Martek will work on technology to convert sugars into biodiesel for BP’s Alternative Energy

team.

Philip News, CEO of BP Biofuels, said: "As an alternative to conventional vegetable oils, we believe sugar to diesel technology has the potential to deliver economic, sustainable and scaleable biodiesel supplies. In partnering with Martek, we combine the world’s leading know-how in microbial lipid production with our expertise in fuels markets and applications and our more recent experience in biofuels production and commercialisation."