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U of M researchers developing high-oil content corn Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Agri News staff writer
GILFILLAN, Minn. -- University of Minnesota researchers have created a type of corn with a much higher oil content than the traditional Midwest variety.
The new variety could eventually be used for both ethanol and biodiesel.
Most of the corn grown in Minnesota has about a 3.5 percent oil content, but U of M researchers gained access to corn from North Korea with almost 20 percent oil. Principal investigator Ron Phillips, regents professor in the agronomy and plant genetics department, led a team that identified the part of the corn's genetics that are responsible for the high oil content, then made multiple crosses between the North Korean and traditional Midwest corn.
By increasing the size of the germ -- the part of corn that contains oil -- and increasing the amount of oil in the germ, the study has created a variety with a 12 percent oil content.
Doug Tiffany, who works for the university's Extension Service as a production economist and is involved in the project, discussed the research at Farmfest earlier this month.
At 12 percent oil, the corn could produce 1,000 pounds of oil per acre, which is 70 percent more than soybeans, he said. The starch component could continue to be used for ethanol and livestock feed, but the oil could be taken for biodiesel.
Tiffany said this "dual-fuel" crop could give farmers who grow it more money through premiums. His research also indicates that an average Minnesota ethanol plant -- one that produces 50 million to 60 million gallons of ethanol per year -- could improve its net profits by $15 million annually if the facility is retrofitted to work with the extracted oil.
Tiffany also said the high-oil corn could help in the debate of food vs. fuel because this corn would offer the chance to produce more oil on less land than before.
Phillips, interviewed by phone, added the increased oil content could help Minnesota reach its goal of 20 percent biodiesel sold in the state by 2015. They both noted a higher oil content will provide more energy in livestock feed.
"Even if you don't use it for biofuel, it's a high-energy feed crop, so you can't really lose," said Phillips.
At this point, the university is continuing research to study how the high-oil corn handles the Minnesota climate and its yields. Then, the university could work with companies to put it on the market.
The project's financial supporters have included the Minnesota Corn Growers Association and the University of Minnesota's Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment, part of the Institute on the Environment.
Besides Phillips and Tiffany, other lead researchers on the project are Nathan Springer, associate professor in the plant biology department, and Roger Ruan, a professor in the bioproducts and biosystems engineering department.
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