The need to shift from petroleum feedstock to a renewable carbon source is becoming more evident to maintain long term sustainability within the chemical industry. The Center for Biorenewable Chemicals (CBiRC) is investigating polyketide / fatty acid biosynthesis pathways in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a source of renewable carbon precursors. These pathways have the ability to produce short chain carbon molecules, which through chemical catalysis, can substitute for current petroleum based chemicals. In our lab, we are using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a recombinant host for the production of short chain fatty acids and 2-pyrones. Currently, we strive to increase fatty acid production by eliminating degradation pathways and by overexpressing substrate and co-factor molecules. We have up- and down-regulated key control elements, as well as expressed exogenous synthase systems with unique properties for the optimization of fatty acid production. Our goal is to harness this yeast for the high-level synthesis of short chain fatty acids. Recently, parallel work has been initiated to increase the production of 2-pyrone molecules.