TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Composition: In the enzyme composition comprising the mixture of the phytase and the a -amylase, the phytase has at least 90-95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3. The phytase is SEQ ID NO: 2 or 3. On the other hand, the a -amylase is obtained from a Bacillus sp., where the Bacillus sp. is Bacillus stearothermophilus, or Bacillus licheniformis. Also, the a -amylase is a variant of the a -amylase obtained from the Bacillus sp., where the Bacillus sp. is B. stearothermophilus. The composition is a starch hydrolyzing composition. Furthermore, the phytase is BP-17 and the a -amylase is SPEZYME XTRA. Preferred Method: In liquefying starch, the milled grain is selected from corn, barley, wheat, rice, sorghum, rye, millet, and triticale. The method also comprises saccharifying the liquefied starch to obtain dextrins; recovering the dextrins; and fermenting the dextrins under suitable fermentation conditions to obtain end-products, where the end-products are selected from alcohol, organic acids, sugar alcohols, ascorbic acid intermediates, amino acids, and proteins. The alcohol is ethanol. Reducing the dose of a -amylase required in the starch liquefaction process also comprises contacting the slurry with the a -amylase, where the a -amylase and phytase are added concurrently. In producing ethanol, the plant material is ground or milled grain. Moreover, the method does not involve the addition of acid or alkali. The slurry is treated with the phytase for a time sufficient to increase the thermostability of the a -amylase. Also, the slurry is treated with the phytase for a time sufficient to allow hydrolysis of starch at a lower pH, and it is also treated with the phytase for a time sufficient to reduce the phytic acid inhibition of a -amylase. SPECIFIC SEQUENCES - Specifically claimed are Buttiauxiella sequences comprising 413 amino acids (SEQ ID NO: 1-3). All sequences are fully defined in the specification.    EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.