We put a lot of pressure on them to be out there first, '' said Peder Holk Nielsen, head of Novozymes's enzymes unit. ``This is one of our must-win battles.

Novozymes executives say they have made it plain to the researchers the importance of getting the enzymes to the market before another method is shown to work.

Novozymes stock pared its loss earlier this year after DuPont co., the third-largest U.S. chemical company, said it planned to build a pilot plant with Danisco to make second - generation biofuel.