Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
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.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / 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?
Project Methods
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.