Biotech Updates

ARS Studies Camelina as Biofuel Source

April 16, 2010

Camelina sativa is being studied as a bioenergy crop for producing jet fuel for the military and aviation industry by scientists of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. A memorandum of understanding was recently signed between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Navy and interests of the Commercial Airlines Alternatve Fuels Initiative to conduct the long term studies.

A member of the plant family Brassicaceae, Camelina is known for its high seed oil content. ARS scientists are exploring ways to incorporate the crop and other oil seed crops into existing crop production systems.

Read the press release at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr