Camelina achieves commercial scale
Camelina, an oilseed crop used to produce next-generation biofuel, is undergoing major expansion in 2009. Great Plains Oil & Exploration - The Camelina Company is pleased to announce that it has increased its contracted acreage by more than 200 percent versus 2008.
(CINCINNATI - June 3, 2009) Camelina, an oilseed crop used to produce next-generation biofuel, is undergoing major expansion in 2009. Great Plains Oil & Exploration - The Camelina Company is pleased to announce that it has increased its contracted acreage by more than 200 percent versus 2008. The
Camelina is a next generation feedstock for biofuel. More than 15 million miles have been driven using Camelina-based biodiesel from Great Plains' production. A recent life cycle analysis conducted at Michigan Tech University stated that Camelina-based jet fuel will produce 84 percent fewer carbon emissions than
traditional jet fuel.
"This growth reinforces Camelina as the most viable next generation biofuel feedstock - and it's here now," said Great Plains CEO Sam Huttenbauer. "Our acreage expansion demonstrates the commercial viability of
the crop. We are delighted by the fact that more and more growers are turning to Camelina."
Great Plains contracts with growers in 12 states in the US and four provinces in Canada. The company plans to expand commercial growing in existing locations and at least five more states and one additional Canadian province in 2009. While most companies do not release acreage data, Great Plains estimates
that it contracts more that 85% of the Camelina grown in North America.
Huttenbauer credits the continued growth to the versatility of the crop and its profitability for the growers.
"Camelina is an amazing crop which we are making better," Huttenbauer said. "After more than a decade of developing Camelina, we have commercial varieties which are very successful. We will continue to leverage our world-leading intellectual property to fuel our expansion."
About Great Plains Oil & Exploration
Great Plains Oil & Exploration (Great Plains - The Camelina Company) is a renewable fuels company which pioneered the manufacturing and marketing of fuel and chemicals from Camelina. Great Plains has exclusive access to the majority of the world's Camelina germplasm and is the established leader in the field of Camelina agronomy and production. Great Plains has developed a grower base and production facilities from which it produces and supplies commercial quantities of biofuel as well as high-protein, omega-3 rich animal feed. More information can be found at CamelinaCompany.com.