A group of researchers in Texas, Arizona and Illinois, supported by funding from the USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, are investigating the biofuel potential of lesquerella, a member of the mustard family that grows in arid and semi-arid growing areas unsuitable for food crops without irrigation. Lesquerella also has a salt-tolerant hybrid, is rich in fatty acids, and has superior cold-flow characteristics to other oils, including petroleum. The research team is developing new hybrids and collecting seeds from native populations of lesquerella in the southwest.
Entry Information
Related Stories
Salt-friendly crops key to 63 billion gallons in ethanol from non-foodstock land, say researchersSaltwater-tolerant crops, known as halophytes, are in focus in a Science magazine story about the potential to increase the world's irrigated acreage up to 50 percent by increasing reliance on and res...
Pilot farm grows salicoma in Mexico using seawater; potential biodiesel feedstock is brine-tolerantIn Mexico, the former head of the University of Arizona Environmental Research Lab has established a pilot scale farm to grow salicoma, or sea asparagus, a salt-tolerant plant that grows in inhospitab...
Cyanobacteria to ethanol process discovered by Hawaii research teamIn Hawaii, University of Hawai'i Professor Pengchen "Patrick" Fu has developed a technology that converts cyanobacteria to ethanol, and has patented the process based on carbon dioxide, sunlight and s...
Nebraska’s Sen. Nelson says Obama administration will be more ethanol-friendlyIn Nebraska, US Senator Ben Nelson told Omaha.com that the attitude of the new Obama administration towards the ethanol industry will be more friendly than relations with the Bush administration. "I t...
Biofuel-powered vehicles to vie for speed records at Bonneville Salt FlatsIn Utah, car designers preparing for the Bonneville Speed Week have debuted a variety of high-speed biofuel cars. The biofuel-powered vehicles will challenge for world speed records on the Bonneville ...
Hawaiian Electric outlines eco-friendly biodiesel feedstock policies, and calls for Kukui Nut researchHawaiian Electric released its biodiesel purchasing policy, pledging to do business only with palm oil producers who have not destroyed natural forest. Also, the Honolulu Advertiser ran an article on ...
