| MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 14, 2000--Once a dream of
researchers worldwide, naturally based materials, such as corn, sugar
beets and organic matter, known as biomass, are rapidly gaining widespread
support as the raw materials for such wide ranging applications as energy
production, consumer goods packaging and even textiles.
The push for the use of biobased resources is gaining momentum from
both government and industry sectors. It received a significant boost with
the U.S. Department of Energy's recent formation of the National Bioenergy
Center, as well as the continued success of Cargill Dow LLC's breakthrough
technology to make commercial-scale plastic resins from simple plant
sugars.
``Biobased resources hold the key to successfully addressing many of
the energy, environmental and material needs facing our society,'' said
Dr. Pat Gruber, vice president of technology, Cargill Dow. ``We see no
limit to the possibility of using renewable, plant-based resources,
instead of non-renewable resources, such as petroleum, in a wide range of
commercially competitive applications. And, by using raw materials that
can be re-grown and replenished on an annual basis, we can help ensure a
bright future for generations to come.''
The newly formed National Bioenergy Center will focus on helping
researchers tap into the power of biomass - generally defined as the
earth's plant matter and its byproducts. It will provide world-class
research support to help industry develop clean energy technologies to
benefit consumers and farmers. The overall goal is to help foster
technological advances to address environmental issues and spur demand for
U.S. agricultural products.
According to the Department of Energy estimates(1), there is enough
biomass to supply a significant portion of the U.S. energy need.
Furthermore, demand for biomass could generate as much as $20 billion a
year in new revenue for farmers and rural communities. The Department of
Energy also estimates that use of biomass could help reduce greenhouse
emissions by up to 100 tons a year, or the equivalent of removing 70
million cars from the road.
``Biomass and bioenergy are sensible and promising solutions,'' Gruber
continued. ``Every year, photosynthetic processes on land and at sea
capture more than 10 times the world's energy use. Our challenge is to
work together as government and industry to develop technologies that
allow us to harvest the natural matter found in plants, and to do so in an
environmentally responsible manner. Through our work with the DOE, we have
been able to enhance our technology and be a good corporate citizen.''
A prime example of successful biobased research is NatureWorks(TM) PLA.
This new polymer is derived entirely from annually renewable resources
such as corn, sugar beets and cassava, and requires 20 to 50 percent less
fossil fuel to make than comparable hydrocarbon-based plastics. In
addition, it has the added environmental benefit of helping to reduce
carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere. This is because renewable
resources, like corn, recycle the earth's carbon. Carbon dioxide is
removed from the atmosphere when growing the ``raw material'' and the
carbon is returned to the earth when PLA degrades after its usable life.
As U.S. industry continues to expand its use of biomass and biobased
products, public/private partnerships, such as those facilitated by the
Department of Energy, will be critical to the movement's continued
success. Such partnerships help reduce risk for the participants and spur
research and development efforts through shared resources and expertise.
The result will likely be a new industrial revolution where scarce
resources can be replaced by more abundant, annually renewable ones. As an
added benefit, biobased technology also holds the promise of a more
environmentally sound future for the manufacture of plastics, chemicals
and power.
For more information on the National Bioenergy Center visit www.eren.doe.gov/bioenergy_initiative/
. To learn more about Cargill Dow's NatureWorks PLA, visit www.cdpoly.com
.
(1) DOE official statement on October 31, 2000
Contact:
Cargill Dow LLC
Michael O'Brien, 612/742-0523
michael_o'brien@cdpoly.com |