By Scout Nelson
In a significant move toward sustainable agriculture and renewable energy, Cargill has partnered with the University of Minnesota to expand the cultivation of specialized oil seed crops such as camelina and pennycress.
This collaboration focuses on enhancing biofuel production capabilities in the Midwest, particularly across Minnesota and the Dakotas.
The University of Minnesota's Forever Green Initiative has long advocated for the expansion of winter-hardy oil seed crops, which possess higher oil content than traditional soybeans.
These crops, primarily camelina and pennycress, are part of the mustard family and have historically received minimal attention for plant breeding to develop new varieties.
"This is really Cargill saying, ‘OK, we are believers in the technology and in camelina and pennycress,’" explained Lyle DePauw, Cargill’s crop innovation director. "It's all about accelerating the program, it's all about bringing better genetics forward, it's all about creating better lines of camelina that can be put into the marketplace."
The collaboration will leverage Cargill's resources, including its crop innovation center in Fort Collins, Colorado, to accelerate the development of new crop varieties.
The seeds produced through this pilot project will be processed into oil at a crushing plant in Fargo, with the ultimate goal of contributing to the renewable fuels sector, particularly sustainable aviation fuel.
Nick Jordan, co-director of the Forever Green Initiative and a professor at the University of Minnesota, highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of these crops.
"These crops are viable now, but need to become better," Jordan said, noting the potential for developing earlier-maturing camelina plants and higher-yielding pennycress plants. These improvements could greatly enhance the oil composition and overall productivity of the crops.
The state of Minnesota has already begun to provide financial incentives to farmers willing to grow these crops, recognizing their potential to reduce nitrate pollution and keep fields covered throughout the year.
With successful implementation, Jordan estimates that between 1,000,000 to 1,250,000 acres could be dedicated to these crops within the next decade, potentially producing up to 50 million gallons of aviation biofuel annually.
This partnership signifies a substantial commitment to agricultural innovation and aligns with broader regional efforts, such as the Minneapolis St. Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership's initiative to establish a sustainable aviation fuel hub in Minnesota.
As these efforts gain momentum, they promise to reshape the landscape of agricultural production and sustainable energy in the Midwest.
Photo Credit: University of Minnesota
Categories: Minnesota, Education