SBIR-STTR Award

Situation Camelina sativa (camelina, false flax, or Gold of Pleasure) is an under-utilized crop that contains valuable oil, fiber and high quality protein with many potential uses in both nutrition (human and animal) and industrial applications: Camelina has been evaluated for oil production in the US (Robinson, 1987; Putman et al. 1993), but surprisingly, it has not yet emerged as a viable US crop. The Great Northern Growers Cooperative (GNG) is proposing to rapidly scale-up production of this multiple-use crop in the Northern Great Plains and to concurrently develop innovations to efficiently produce omega-3 products for human and animal consumption, as well as producing industrial biofuels and biolubricants Purpose This crop can be economically produced and processed in Montana providing a much needed high value, multi-use crop with relatively low input costs for Montana producers. OBJECTIVES: Objectives: I. Production of biodiesel from a domestic and sustainable oil that favorably competes with petroleum diesel. a. Can we produce an efficacious biodiesel from Camelina oil? b. Can we rapidly scale up production of camelina and oil processing? c. Are there viable markets for this biodiesel (agricultural, private transportation, Government fleets, Military)? II. Development of biobased lubricants from camelina oil and oil esters. a. Can we produce camelina-based biolubricants? b. Is the scale-up of the esterification process economic? c. Is there a market for the biolubricant? II. Formulation and evaluation of high omega-3 fatty acid fish food from pressed camelina meal for hatcheries and commercial fish farms. a. Will fish that are fed camelina have improved levels of omega-3 fatty acids? b. What is the optimum ratio of camelina meal in fish feed (price, feed conversion, palatability)? c. What will be the effect of camelina feeds on meat quality? d. Is there a market for the camelina fish feed? III. Production of culinary oils for improved human nutrition. a. Is there a US market for Camelina oil (culinary, cosmetic)? IV. Optimization of camelina production including seed yield, oil yield, and omega-3 yield a. What is the omega-3 content of camelina produced in Montana? b. What is the oil profile of the 40 accessions of camelina that we are evaluating? c. Can we increase the percentage of omega-3 fatty acids in camelina oil? d. Are high-altitude, cooler-temperature camelina oils different in oil content (omega-3 content) that camelina oils grown at more temperate locations? e. What is the oil content of winter-planted camelina vs. spring-planted camelina? APPROACH: Approach 1. Production feasibility of Camelina (Great Northern Growers (GNG) and Montana Ag Research Centers (MARC)) Great Northern Growers and the MARC will plant 500-1000 acres of camelina in 2005. The MARC and GNG will provide test seed and assist in ascertaining problems through the growing season as a part of their ongoing research. GNG and MARC will continue to optimize agronomic practices for the production of camelina including seeding practices, soil fertility, and chemical recommendations, as well as harvest and storage considerations. 2. Market analysis of camelina A marketing firm will be hired by GNG to assist in ascertaining markets for omega-3 oils, identifying competitors and determining marketing strategies to benefit GNG. 3. Processing of camelina GNG will partner with an oilseed processing facility to process their production of oil and meal in 2005.. 4. Product development of camelina Camelina meal will be used to manufacture fish foods in the pilot facility of the Piper Fish Research Laboratory in Bozeman, Montana. The fish nutritionist (Dr. Rick Barrows) is an employee of the USDA and will develop the formulation. Formulations will be provided to GNG and the marketing firm for further market analysis. Montana State University will utilize residual seed from 2004 for analyses of oil, meal and fiber. All data will be returned to GNG to assist in developing a market strategy. Oil quality analysis will be done on the oil and meal from the 2005 crop. New products including vegetable wax esters for the lubrication and cosmetic industries will be developed using enzymatic processes. Branched chain oils (estilides) will be developed for use in bio-lubricant applications such as motor oils and hydraulic oils. E.6. Related Research Agronomic investigations of camelina production have been undertaken in both North America and Europe. Camelina is a minor oilseed crop in several European countries (Austria, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Poland, and the USSR) and is being evaluated as a feedstock for biodiesel production. Camelina is a minor food crop in Finland and is marketed by Camelina, Ltd. Montana State University is forming a robust Camelina R&D program. This effort includes agronomy and production, human nutrition and impact on chronic disease, animal nutrition (omega-3 fatty acids and fiber), and biofuel and biolubricant production. The entire USDA NPGS collection of Camelina (~40 accessions) has been planted at the Northwestern ARC and the Eastern ARC. Yield and oil composition of each of these accessions will be evaluated later this fall. Promising accessions will be increased and further developed as varieties. PROGRESS: 2005/07 TO 2006/06 Camelina sativa is an under-utilized crop that contains valuable oil, fiber and high quality protein with many potential uses in culinary, cosmetic, animal feed, bio-fuel and other industrial applications. Camelina oil has a high content of omega-3 fatty acid, an essential oil for prevention and management of several chronic diseases in humans. The oil is less expensive to produce than other vegetable oils, and can be used to produce bio-diesel and bio-lubricants. Camelina meal, the extruded product remaining after oil extraction, contains valuable protein and residual fatty acids. Immense strides have been made to scale-up production and marketability of Camelina. GNG planted over 400 acres in 2005, using seed imported from Germany and Austria. Nine GNG members, as well as five Montana Ag Research Centers planted camelina acreage. About ten other Montana producers had small plots. Production was harvested, processed and tested in feeding trials and bio fuel manufacture. In 2006, Great Northern Growers 41 members planted over 5000 acres. Several new lines have been selected and are being analyzed, many potential markets have been identified and product research and development is ongoing. Processing facilities are being evaluated, Great Northern Growers plans to have processing capability for the 2007 crop, as existing custom processing facilities will not be able to handle the projected volume of product. New international research is proclaiming the nutritional aptitude of omega-3, tocopherols, and glycosinolates, all primary essential nutrients offered by consuming Camelina oil and meal. The increase in the price of petroleum products has added to the urgency to develop bio-fuels. IMPACT: 2005/07 TO 2006/06 Camelina appears to offer a number of potential attributes or benefits that may create a demand for the product as a human food, animal feed and an ingredient for biodiesel. GNG processed camelina typically yields approximately 76% meal/press cake, 22% camelina oil and 2% waste and heavies. The exact percentages are likely to depend on the variety of camelina grown, growing conditions, fertilizer and other inputs, the method of extraction (for example solvent versus cold pressed) and the quantity of oil left in the meal/press cake after oil extraction. Camelina offers GNG opportunities in the human nutrition, meal/animal feed, bio-fuel and other markets. Each of these markets has very definite requirements, and lines of camelina should be grown or developed that have the specific characteristics desired by different users. Once it is determined which varieties thrive in specific agricultural conditions around the state, it is imperative to understand the compositional variations between these varieties as the ultimate end market dictates which compositional profile is optimal. The results of on-going research at MSU, will have a critical impact on the economic viability of growing and marketing camelina

Montana producers have long needed a broadleaf crop which will grow in all areas of Montana to provide a beneficial crop rotation. Gold of pleasure is that crop. High protein OmegaMeal(TM) will have a major impact on Montana agricultural income, by providing a quality protein source to supplement Montana barley and distillers grains, encouraging livestock feeding in Montana. Camelina oil can be refined into an economical biodiesel or utilized in omega3 health food, cosmetics and animal feeds. Wax esters, mucilage, tocopherol, glucosinolate, super omega3, offer interesting industrial and nutraceutical uses. The overall objective SBIR project is to develop a highly sustainable crop (camelina) that can be produced and processed in Montana, provides a fair return to growers, and promotes economic development through manufacture and refining of value-added products and biofuels. In Montana, net wheat income averages $23.50/acre and does not offer potential for added farmgate value. Revenue from a single acre of processed camelina (1500 lbs/acre) could generate between $150-300 net revenue. GNG has a goal to produce a million acres of camelina generating over $150 million in grower revenue. Value added processing will further increase net revenue to Montana industry. OBJECTIVES: I.Expansion of the Great Northern Grower Cooperative (GNG). Expansion of membership Expansion of facility. Expansion of camelina acreage. II.Optimization of agronomic practices to maximize yield and omega-3 fatty acid content of camelina. Effect of plant date on yield and omega-3 content (GNG and NWARC). Evaluation of winter varieties of Camelina (GNG and NWARC) Evaluation of herbicides for control of noxious weeds and petition for section 18 permit to utilize specific herbicides (GNG). Evaluation of co-cropping camelina with other feed crops (GNG) III.Selection of Montana Varieties of Camelina varieties adapted for production in the Northern Great Plains. The longer-term goals will be selection of varieties with higher omega-3 content for the culinary and cosmetic market and varieties with lower omega-3 content for industrial applications (GNG, MSU, and NWARC). IV.Establish value and demand for OmegaMeal(TM) in the livestock, poultry and pet feed markets to enable production of economic vegetable oil for the commodity biodiesel market (GNG, MSU, NWARC). V.Provide commercial quantities of affordable camelina oil to the burgeoning Biodiesel Industry (GNG) VI.Continued evaluation of camelina oil as a component of biolubricant (NWARC) VII.Continued evaluation of camelina oil as a culinary oil and evaluation of health benefit (MSU). Development of a market for camelina culinary oil as a food ingredient (GNG). VIII.Completion of a Manufacture Feasibility and Structure Design Study. Scenarios to be evaluated include; Agronomic production and oil extrusion. Agronomic production, oil extrusion, feed formulation. Agronomic production, oil extrusion, biodiesel manufacture Agronomic production, oil extrusion, feed formulation, biodiesel manufacture. APPROACH: GNG will continue to actively recruit growers and processors to the cooperative. The biodiesel industry has indicated that they will consume all oil produced. The challenge is to develop valuable markets and demand for the meal in order to make production of large quantities of affordable oil for the biodiesel industry profitable for the farmer. GNG will continue to determine the optimum practices to maximize yield and omega-3 fatty acid content of camelina. This is especially important as camelina production continues to expand throughout Montana. Best management protocols will vary across this massive state. Eastern Montana is dry and can be very hot in late July and August. Western Montana is wetter and crops tend to mature earlier. Soil composition and pH also vary considerably. GNG will continue to collaborate with Montana State University and the Montana Ag Research Centers to strengthen camelina breeding program. Camelina was over looked by the green revolution of the twentieth century; there is a large diverse gene pool from which to select the best nutritional and agronomic lines. We need to place an emphasis on selection for nutrition as well as yield. Most of our modern commercial crops have been bred for yield at the expense of nutrition; resulting in crops deficient in essential amino acids (like lysine) and fatty acids (like omega-3). Camelina meal, OmegaMeal(TM), must be successful in the market place in order to economically produce vegetable oil at a price that is economically viable to the biodiesel industry. Phase II research will focus on development of unique products and specialized manufacturing to provide OmegaMeal(TM). OmegaMeal(TM) may account for seventy five percent of the total processed product value. Development of a robust market for OmegaMeal will drive the potential economics of camelina production in Montana.. Additional markets for long chain polymers are also emerging. Enzymatic modification of omega-3 and related fatty acids has been successfully accomplished to provide new long chain wax esters similar to jojoba oil (Steinke et al. 2000a; 2000b). These long chain wax esters can be produced at a very economical cost and are superior to synthetic esters in lubricating ability for friction reduction and are also identical to human esters for use in cosmetic applications. Future market opportunities include selling the oil for culinary purposes including culinary oil and spreads. GNG will continue to pursue establish contacts with the industry and make oil available to interested parties. Montana Manufacturing Extension Center will work with GNG to design a prototype processing facility, one or more of which will constructed in rural Montana communities surrounded by an adequate acreage of camelina to supply the raw material. These processing facilities are for extrusion, storage of seed, meal and oil, as well as containerizing product for market. Additional processing may be beneficial. This study will also determine the benefit of establishing refining facilities for biodiesel, biolubricant, livestock feed, and bottling of culinary and cosmetic oils