Camelina Biodiesel Fed Approved

MONTANA, Nov 11 2009 (Neo Natura) - Camelina companies say federal officials have approved the use of meal from the biofuels crop as a 10 percent supplement in cattle feed — a development that could boost the prospects for Montana's fledgling camelina industry.

Two companies, Great Plains Oil & Exploration and Sustainable Oils, have been working in recent years to develop a market for camelina for use as a replacement for jet fuel or diesel.

The crop grows well in Montana's arid soils, but farmers have been reluctant to switch over from wheat and other traditional crops.

Now the Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of meal from the plant's crushed seeds for use in cattle feed. That could make biofuels production more profitable, by creating a potential market for one of the crop's byproducts.

Great Plains Oil and Exploration has also leased a Montola plant in Culbertson for seed storage after its owners failed to pay farmers for crops grown under contract.

The plant was owned by Sustainable Systems, a Missoula renewable-fuels company that contracted for oilseed in 2008 at premium prices. The company didn't obtain bank loans to pay for seed and remain operational, according to the annual report of Sustainable Systems' parent company, Greenshift Corp.

Sustainable later forfeited its surety bond and agreed to let state agriculture officials liquidate company assets to satisfy debts to growers. Through the process, growers received nearly $1.2 million in payment.

"The Culbertson facility immediately provides Great Plains with storage and handling capabilities that are much needed after yet another record Camelina crop," said Sam Huttenbauer III, Great Plains CEO. "We remain committed to operating a Montana crushing facility, and this agreement allows us to continue to explore our options at Culbertson."

Equipment modifications are needed at the Culbertson plant before it can efficiently extract seed oil while still complying with federal environmental law. The facility is now owned by Carbonics Capital Corp.

Camelina Passes Second Feedstock Hurdle

MONTANA, Oct 01 2008 (Neo Natura) - Sustainable Oils has reached a key milestone in its efforts to build camelina production and marketing opportunities for Montana farmers. The company received approval from the Center for Veterinary Medicine, a department of the Federal Drug Administration, for the use of camelina meal in the diets of feedlot beef cattle and growing swine up to 2 percent of the weight of the total ration. Camelina meal is a by-product of camelina oil extraction.

Sustainable Oils was launched in late 2007 and is focused on the research, development and commercialization of camelina for biodiesel production. Camelina, a distant relative to canola, requires minimal water and can be harvested with traditional equipment. Because of these properties, it can be grown on fallow ground or as a rotation crop. Therefore, it is not competitive with traditional food crops, but instead creates a food plus fuels scenario.

"This is an important step in the process of developing a strong, sustainable market for camelina production," said Steve Sandroni, production and logistics manager, Sustainable Oils. "Opening up the livestock feed opportunities for camelina meal provides a market for the most significant by-product of camelina oil production."

"Especially at a time when livestock feeders are battling high input prices, camelina meal can be a very attractive option," he continued. "The meal is an excellent source of protein. With protein levels of 40 percent or more, it is similar to soybean meal but offers the added benefit of being high in Omega-3 fatty acids."

Sustainable Oils is leading the formation of an industry coalition working to obtain "Generally Recognized As Safe" certification from the Food and Drug Administration so all producers can sell camelina meal. Sustainable Oils is now one of only two companies who have approval to sell camelina meal. A nutritionist knowledgeable about the use of camelina must be consulted in developing rations using the product.

Camelina: A Biodiesel Feedstock

MONTANA, Aug 29 2008 (Neo Natura) - The National Biodiesel Board has a feedstock development program in place to help diversify feedstocks available to make biodiesel through geographic diversity, using non-edible product and increasing oil yield in current feedstocks. One up-and-coming feedstock of interest, camelina, is a newcomer to the United States, but has worked well in Europe.

Camelina may look and act like a weed, but those characteristics help make it a viable oil crop for biodiesel. It can be grown in arid conditions and does not require significant amounts of fertilizer. The best part is the oil content. Some varieties are 38 percent to 40 percent oil. The leftover meal could be used in animal feed or human consumption, but neither usage has yet been approved in the United States. However, a camelina production guide published by Montana State University suggests that camelina meal has the potential to enhance the food quality of fish, meat, poultry and dairy products.

Camelina is a member of the mustard family and is also known as false flax, gold of pleasure and leindotter in Germany. According to Montana State University, camelina is a short season (85 to 100 days) annual or winter annual crop. It performs well under drought stress and can yield up to 2,200 pounds per acre in areas with less than 16 inches of annual rainfall. It can be planted on marginally productive cropland from eastern Washington to North Dakota. Camelina production increased nearly 200 percent in Montana to 20,400 acres in 2007.