While jatropha is taking off as a biofuel stock, camelina sativa is garnering some attention of its own for its potential as a biofuel that would work with, not against, food crops.

The pros of the plant include that it doesn’t require much rainfall, yields crops double that of soy beans, produces an oil resistant to colder temperatures, and the leftovers after the oil is extracted makes for good livestock feed. Additionally, it can be grown in rotation with wheat crops, helping to increase wheat yields by 15% while producing up to 100 gallons of camelina oil per acre. Since it produces industrial oil, and not food oil, yet leftovers can be used as food for animals that become food, it would go a long way in reducing the debate swirling around food crops as biofuel. Those are some pretty attractive pros.

The cons include growers not knowing much about the plant, and not a lot of field testing has been done on it (Montana State University is working on more studies on that). However one feels about growing crops to fuel machines, advocates of biofuel may be turning to this plant as an option for a high-yield crop that doesn’t get in the way of other important food crops like wheat.

Via Biofuels Digest, CheckBiotech

Comments (15)

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Interesting
written by Shoesaroo , August 20, 2008

This was interesting article. It's a shame your grammar was so bad that I had to reread parts of it many times.

Apparently, someone always has to be an
written by Scott B. , August 20, 2008

Hopefully, one day we can figure out how to make biofuel out of asses who needlessly complain about grammar. Talk about an unlimited resource.

...
written by JohnnyC , August 20, 2008

Can this be smoked? It's Sativa after all

In aggreeance with Scott B.
written by Steve M. , August 20, 2008

That would definitely free up our wheat resources...

Awesome!
written by Mae , August 20, 2008

I don't understand why more research isn't put into bio-fuels! This plant sounds amazing if it's everything it seems to be!

Funds
written by Jim Jones , August 20, 2008

Shame we cant waste less on Dictator Bushs stupid global domination efforts and start spending that money wisely!

RE
www.FireMe.To/udi

One of the Best plants for this purpose
written by Fred Sanford , August 20, 2008

Hemp
not only does it grow easily, the seeds produce as much as 4x the oil of Soy (which would be more than the above mentioned plant). It produces more fiber per acre than trees, for both paper and rope/cloth.

THis same fiber (if ever a cellulotic ethanol process is perfected) can be used for that too.

Can be grown nearly anywhere (there are still help plants *trying* to grow after being planted (and mowed/tilled) during WWII (1940ish).

Just remember -
-- The original Declaration (and constitution I think) was written on hemp paper.
-- It was ILLEGAL NOT to grow hemp during and for a time after the revolutionary war.
-- Levi's original jeans were hemp cloth
(just a few points)

I second that.
written by CX , August 20, 2008

I second that Fred. It is definitely a great resource for many things from grains, oil, medicine, rope, tapestries, clothes, rugs and sails.

Compost everything
written by Brent Jones , August 20, 2008

Make compost of all garbage. Yes you have to pull out the organics that rot. At the same time sort out metals, glass, plastic and paper. This can and SHOULD be done now. Make methane. Make ethanol. Then start growing GRASS, no not cannibus, for fermentation to alcohol. Make a law that says no food crops (=corn, wheat, soy, etc.) shall ever be used for fuel. We could convert to ethanol in 5 years, folks!! Just 5 years!!

Hemp would be better
written by Kyler , August 20, 2008

Hemp is a very good biofuel alternative, and the growing and harvesting of it has been understood and refined for centruries

...
written by Isabel S. , August 20, 2008

I agree with Scott B. How lame to correct someone's grammar when it's not the execution but the message which matters. I suck at grammar but I was very much able to read and comprehend this womderful article.Thanks for the info
BTW my husband has an old U-Haul truck (diesel) he used bio diesel to run it.

Of The Earth
written by beau , August 20, 2008

While this plant has some well described advantages over food based biofuel, there is still the problem of it coming from the ground, sucking up land and energy for other crops. Not to mention the biproducts that may come from burning it for fuel. I have yet to come across a better idea than solar power meet the world's ever-increasing energy needs.

Hahaha
written by 800HighTech , August 21, 2008

I new someone would ask if this could be smoked! no answer to that question but I'd agree that this seems like a viable option for a high-yield bio-fuel crop.

Not a food oil? Are you sure?
written by Mac , August 21, 2008

Please do bother to check with other online sources before making assertions.

A simple search on wikipedia yields:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camelina_sativa

Which clearly states that this plant has been cultivated for thousands of years as an edible oil crop (as well as fuel for lamps).

lool
written by psychic readings , August 21, 2008

Why don't you go smoke it and see for yourself? ;>

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