Thousand Oaks, California and
Brookings, South Dakota
December 3, 2007
Energy crop company
Ceres, Inc. announced today
that it is sponsoring research at South Dakota State University
in Brookings to develop improved switchgrass for the northern
Great Plains. Switchgrass is a native species of North America’s
tallgrass prairie and is widely considered an ideal raw material
for a new generation of biofuels made from non-food crops.
The cooperative, multi-year program will focus on developing
higher-yielding cultivars adapted to production in northern
latitudes, often called upland types.
South Dakota State University
(SDSU) plant breeder Arvid Boe, Ph.D, will lead field and
greenhouse research, which will involve cross breeding and
selections supported by Ceres technology that makes the process
more efficient and predictable. University researchers will also
study genetic diversity in this perennial grass species, among
other objectives.
Peter Mascia, Ceres vice president of product development, said
that South Dakota has been a key supporter of cellulosic
biofuels, and switchgrass, in particular. “Dr. Boe has decades
of experience in switchgrass and is regarded in the industry as
a leading expert in upland types. This joint product development
program allows us to expand our existing switchgrass breeding
efforts for what we believe will be an important biofuel
production region.” He noted that improving yield and plant
composition will have a significant impact on the economics for
farmers and biorefineries as the industry expands.
A veteran breeder of perennial grasses, Dr. Boe believes
switchgrass can be competitive with conventional crops,
especially on the semi-arid land of South Dakota and Nebraska.
"Switchgrass is tolerant of a wide range of environmental
conditions, and compared with many other perennial grasses and
conventional crop plants, it produces relatively large amounts
of biomass under both good and poor growing conditions," he
said. To maximize performance, he noted that cultivars intended
for biofuel production on the northern Great Plains must be
highly productive and able to persist in cold climates. "For
sustainable production of biomass feedstock in the northern
Great Plains, cultivars developed from strains of switchgrass
indigenous to the northern and central Great Plains will likely
have a long-term yield advantage over non-adapted strains from
outside of those regions."
SDSU Vice President for Research Kevin Kephart said South Dakota
State University has been making strategic decisions regarding
biofuels and cellulosic feedstocks for over 20 years. “As a
consequence we have one of the most advanced programs for
switchgrass breeding, genetics and agronomy. Creation of an
efficient feedstock production system must begin with the best
possible genetics and an effective seed delivery system. Our
work with Ceres is a critical step in the right direction for
this exciting new industry,” Kephart said.
A diverse species, switchgrass is a major part of the prairie
that once dominated the landscape of North America. Depending on
the seed variety and climatic conditions, switchgrass can grow
nine feet tall with deep roots that reduce erosion and increase
soil carbon levels, among other benefits.
Gary Lemme, dean of SDSU's College of Agriculture and Biological
Sciences, said Ceres' decision to partner with SDSU helps keep
South Dakota at the forefront of the biofuels industry. "The
partnership with Ceres positions South Dakota State University
grass plant breeders in a leading role of developing improved
cultivars of locally adapted native and introduced grasses for
the cellulosic fuel industry. Ceres' position as a leading
energy crop company both stimulates SDSU research through
additional funds and establishes commercialization channels for
the distribution of the seed to South Dakota producers," Lemme
said.
SDSU President David Chicoine said the new agreement between
Ceres and SDSU not only benefits South Dakota, but ultimately
may help supply America’s energy needs. “This agreement
continues SDSU's excellent track record in developing effective
collaborations with private industry. In this case, the
collaboration will result in establishing a new industry in
South Dakota that will contribute to the nation's critical needs
for energy security and sustainable economic development in
rural communities,” Chicoine said.
In October, Ceres announced a multi-year collaboration to
develop high-biomass sorghums with Texas A&M University. The
company’s research and development efforts also cover
miscanthus, energycane and woody crops. Early products will
include high-yielding switchgrass cultivars scheduled for
release in 2009 and sorghum hybrids scheduled the following
year.
Ceres, Inc. is a leading
developer of high-yielding energy crops that can be planted as
feedstocks for cellulosic ethanol production. Founded as a plant
genomics company, Ceres holds one of the world’s largest
proprietary collections of fully sequenced plant genes. The
privately held company also licenses its technology and traits
to other organizations.
Founded in 1881, South Dakota
State University is the state’s only land-grant institution
and it continues to lead in student enrollment of all the
state’s institutions of higher education. Fulfilling its
land-grant mission, SDSU advances agriculture and the biological
sciences through campus-based research farms and laboratories, 6
bio-diverse experiment stations, 14 interactive technology
centers through the state, and extension specialists and
educators in every county. In 2006, SDSU was recognized by the
Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as the
state’s only RU/H Research University (high research activity).
This prestigious ranking recognizes the growth of doctoral
programs, degrees granted and competitive funds obtained.
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