Ceres and University of Georgia Partner to Develop Improved Switchgrass Varieties

California-based energy crop company Ceres Inc. announced that it will team up with the University of Georgia to develop new high-yielding switchgrass seed varieties and improved crop management techniques for the southeastern United States. Considered as an ideal biofuels crop, switchgrass can reach yield of up to 10 dry tons or more in the Southeast United States. Switchgrass has several agronomic advantages as a bioenergy crop, including low herbicide and fertilizer requirements, rapid growth and drought and flooding tolerance.

In addition to developing high yielding switchgrass varieties, researchers will also evaluate cropping practices in the US, adapting developments made by The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, an Oklahoma-based agricultural research institution with which Ceres has long-term product development collaboration. Ceres will have commercialization rights for the products developed. Other aspects of the collaboration were not disclosed.

The press release is available at http://www.ceres.net/News/NewsReleases/2009/04-13-09-News-Rel.html