Cargill and University of Minnesota Partner on Winter Camelina and Pennycress Research
July 10 2024 - 11:15AM
Business Wire
Project will help develop new seed varieties
and a grower playbook tailored to Upper Midwest growing
conditions
Cargill and the Forever Green Initiative, a research platform in
the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at
the University of Minnesota, are partnering to study winter
camelina and domesticated pennycress. The collaboration will focus
on the development of high performing seed varieties and farming
techniques adapted for the unique growing conditions of the Upper
Midwest.
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Cargill and the Forever Green Initiative
at the University of Minnesota are partnering to study winter
camelina and domesticated pennycress. The collaboration will focus
on the development of high performing seed varieties and farming
techniques adapted for the unique growing conditions of the Upper
Midwest. (Photo: Business Wire)
Cargill will bring expertise in crop improvement—including trait
discovery, high throughput genotyping, genomic selection, trait
development and cellular biology—to rapidly advance the diverse
genetics from the University of Minnesota. The application of these
technologies will accelerate the development and commercial release
of improved varieties of camelina and pennycress.
The project builds on a previously announced $2.5 million
philanthropic grant awarded to the University from Cargill to
accelerate research into crop biology and management.
“This support from Cargill will take our breeding and genomics
work to the next level and help us develop even better varieties of
camelina and pennycress for farmers in Minnesota and beyond,” said
Mitch Hunter, associate director of the Forever Green Initiative.
“We are incredibly grateful to Cargill for this very generous
research partnership.”
Planted in the fall and harvested in the spring, winter camelina
and domesticated pennycress are typically grown as intermediate
oilseed crops that provide soil cover and have the potential to
address key sustainability challenges in agricultural supply chains
including water quality, soil health and ecosystem improvements.
The crops can be used in a rotation with corn and soy or after
small seed crops like wheat.
Given the high oil content of these crops, there is an emerging
revenue opportunity to grow winter camelina and pennycress as cash
crops, driven by rising demand for low-carbon intensity feedstocks.
The seed oil can be refined into drop-in replacements for
low-carbon transportation fuels such as sustainable aviation fuel
and renewable diesel.
“Innovations in agriculture are critical to help feed and fuel
the world sustainably while also addressing climate change,” said
Lyle DePauw, crop innovation director for Cargill. “Cargill has a
long history of partnering with the University of Minnesota and
working alongside farmers to advance new market opportunities.
Winter camelina and pennycress have incredible potential to aid in
the decarbonization of the global transportation system and support
a more sustainable food system.”
Active pilots of camelina in process
Cargill is actively working with a small number of farmers in
Minnesota and North Dakota to learn more about suitable growing
conditions for camelina, with the first harvest wrapping up this
month. There will be additional opportunities for farmers to
explore winter camelina as an option for their operations starting
August 1, as Cargill expands its pilot.
Minnesota farmers who participate in Cargill’s pilot program may
be eligible for support through a Forever Green program called
Environmental and Economic Clusters of Opportunity (EECO), which is
funded by the Clean Water Council with support from the Minnesota
Department of Agriculture. The EECO Program provides agronomic
support, environmental benefit payments, and risk management
payments to farmers who grow winter camelina. Interested farmers
can learn more and enroll at z.umn.edu/EnrollEECO.
About Cargill
Cargill is committed to providing food, ingredients,
agricultural solutions, and industrial products to nourish the
world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way. Sitting at the
heart of the supply chain, we partner with farmers and customers to
source, make and deliver products that are vital for living.
Our 160,000 team members innovate with purpose, providing
customers with life’s essentials so businesses can grow,
communities prosper, and consumers live well. With 159 years of
experience as a family company, we look ahead while remaining true
to our values. We put people first. We reach higher. We do the
right thing—today and for generations to come. For more
information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.
About The Forever Green Initiative
The Forever Green Initiative is developing and improving
winter-hardy annual and perennial crops that protect soil and water
while driving new economic opportunities for growers, industry, and
communities across Minnesota.
By combining these novel crops with traditional annual crops,
farmers can keep the soil covered all year round. This approach to
farming with “continuous living cover” can greatly enhance the
efficiency and sustainability of Minnesota agriculture.
In addition to the Clean Water Council, the Minnesota Department
of Agriculture, and Cargill, major supporters of Forever Green’s
work on camelina and pennycress include the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Energy, The Walton Family
Foundation, Builders Initiative, the MBOLD Coalition, and the
Legislative-Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources.
Additional Resources
The "Putting Down Roots" report analyzes the environmental and
economic benefits of oilseeds and other Forever Green crops in
Minnesota.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240710858347/en/
Media Contact: Bridget Christenson Cargill Media Relations
media@cargill.com