Biotech Updates

Peanuts as New Source of Biodiesel Fuel?

August 3, 2007

Peanut is slowly grabbing the spotlight as a biodiesel crop. Researchers at the US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the University of Georgia, are testing a peanut called Georganic. It is not suited to current commercial edible standards for peanuts, but is high in oil and has low production input costs. Georganic can be planted and grown with just one herbicide application for weed control, and without the need for fungicides.

Many old and new peanut varieties are being tested for field performance, and their oils are being analyzed for diesel performance characteristics. It has been found that high-oleic-acid peanuts—a quality desired for extended shelf life of food products, also make the best biodiesel fuel.

Read the news article at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2007/070730.htm.