Environmental Leader

Archer Daniels Midland Company, Bayer CropScience AG and Daimler AG have announced plans to explore jointly the potential for a biodiesel industry based on Jatropha.

Jatropha is a drought tolerant wild plant whose seeds contain more than 30 percent oil.  It requires little water and can be grown in tropical or sub-tropical regions.  Recent studies show a potential of almost 30 million hectares of land on which it can be grown, according to Bayer.

In the new plan, the three companies are seeking to develop production and quality standards for a biofuel based on Jatropha.  ADM is running several biodiesel refineries, Bayer plans to develop and register fertilizers and insecticides for disease and pest control, and Daimler AG just finished five years of research that demonstrated Jatropha can produce a high-quality biodiesel which has been tested in vehicles.  Daimler will continue to study Jatropha fuel in vehicles powered by it and a mixture with other fuels.

Recently, RAN launched a campaign against ADM, criticizing the companies development of biofuels.

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