Golden Valley, Minnesota
September 5, 2007
Alternative fuels are at the
forefront of many agendas these days, but few would go so far as
to connect one such fuel with America’s No. 3 crop, alfalfa.
However, together with sponsors like
NK Seeds, the National
Alfalfa and Forage Alliance recently conducted its first
Renewable Fuels Summit, “Bioenergy Systems: Alfalfa the
Sleeping Giant,” on Wednesday, Aug. 8 at the Russell Senate
Office Building in Washington D.C.
“NK, backed by Syngenta, is committed to finding and offering
solutions for both greater productivity and better renewable
fuels,” says Joe Waldo, NK alfalfa product manager with Syngenta
Seeds, Inc. “While many do not think of alfalfa as a potential
source of fuel, the summit explored the role alfalfa can play in
the biofuels industry, which is why we were proud to be an event
sponsor.”
The one-day program, which had more than 80 registered
attendees, included presentations on cellulosic ethanol, alfalfa
as a green biomass alternative, the role of corn-alfalfa
rotation in bioenergy systems, and more. Speakers also focused
on United States Department of Agriculture research and
development, as well as legislative updates.
“Supporting events like this one is another way Syngenta is
stepping up to be a leader in fueling the future,” Waldo added.
“Syngenta is striving to find ways to increase field
productivity and spur new trends in production to find renewable
fuel solutions and to help growers profit from the emerging
market.”
In addition to the industry-leading performance of NK alfalfa
varieties, Syngenta is focused on providing a wide range of high
quality, cutting edge soybean and corn products and research.
For example, corn amylase, a new trait from Syngenta, holds
tremendous potential for the dry grind ethanol industry and for
U.S. farmers and could represent a step change improvement in
ethanol processing. Based upon our laboratory and pilot scale
results, Syngenta is very confident that expressing
alpha-amylase enzyme directly in the corn grain confers unique
benefits that can make production of ethanol more efficient. The
product is currently pending U.S. regulatory approvals.
The National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance (NAFA) organized in 2006
as a combination of other industry organizations. NAFA focuses
on providing training and education, as well as playing a role
in public policy initiatives, including alfalfa as a feedstock
for bioenergy and bioproducts.
NK is a trusted hybrid corn, soybean and alfalfa seed supplier
with more than 100 years of service in the marketplace. Backed
by the resources and research of Syngenta™, NK provides
customers top-performing genetics, trait choices and flexible
productivity solutions for maximum yield and profit, delivered
though retail-based partnerships. Located in Golden Valley,
Minn., NK is a business unit of Syngenta Seeds, Inc.
Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to
sustainable agriculture through innovative research and
technology. The company is a leader in crop protection, and
ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in
2006 were approximately $8.1 billion. Syngenta employs around
21,000 people in over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the
Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT). Further
information is available at
www.syngenta.com.
NK® and Backed by the resources and research of Syngenta™ are
trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. |
|
