Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
August 27, 2009

Great Plains announces that its partner, Agragen, a leader in using biotechnology to modify Camelina to increase agronomically desirable traits, has filed for patent protection on a novel method designed to increase the tolerance of Camelina to Group 2 herbicides.

Agragen’s science team has introduced specific modifications that increase Camelina’s tolerance to Group 2 herbicides by more than 300-fold in laboratory testing. This unique approach is designed to make Camelina more tolerant for planting in areas where residual Group 2 herbicides in the soil limit farmer’s cropping options. The introduction of an herbicide-tolerant Camelina will potentially open up the crop to millions of additional acres of rotational land.

“This new development demonstrates how well our science team can take an idea from the concept stage and move it all the way through to the green house. We commenced this project in October of 2008 and we are already collecting seeds from the first set of plants, much faster than traditional approaches,” says Dr. Eric J. Murphy, Chief Scientific Officer for Agragen.

The resulting intellectual property will belong to Great Plains. This development expands Great Plains’ germplasm collection, which already comprises the majority of the world’s Camelina germplasm for commercial use.

Sam Huttenbauer, CEO of Great Plains said “We see the importance of expanding the capacity of Camelina to tolerate Group 2 herbicides. This new development will make Camelina an ideal rotation crop in these areas. We are very excited about what Agragen has been able to accomplish in this short time.”

Great Plains is forecasting that these plants will be ready for commercial use in the spring of 2011.

Earlier this week, Great Plains announced it is introducing nine new varieties of Camelina designed to boost yields, allowing increased production on every acre planted. The additional varieties provide growers of this biofuel crop with more options that can be tailored to their climate, geography, and other factors.

Great Plains Oil & Exploration (Great Plains – The Camelina Company) is a renewable fuels company which pioneered the manufacturing and marketing of fuel and chemicals from Camelina. Great Plains has exclusive access to the majority of the world’s Camelina germplasm and is the established leader in the field of Camelina agronomy and production. Great Plains has developed a grower base and production facilities from which it produces and supplies commercial quantities of biofuel as well as high-protein, omega-3 rich animal feed.

Website: http://www.camelinacompany.com

Published: August 28, 2009