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Montana-based company closes camelina contracting season

April 14, 2009 

Bozeman, Montana –Sustainable Oils has successfully closed its camelina contracting period for the 2009 growing season.  Growers across Montana and southern Canada are now gearing up to plant the 2009 camelina crop. “We had tremendous response from growers and retailers to the Sustainable Oils 2009 contract,” said Scott Johnson, general manager, Sustainable Oils.  “Our goal for 2009 is to partner with a select group of farmers so together we could fine-tune our production protocol to maximize yields and profitability as we move forward to contract acres with a much larger group of growers in 2010.” Sustainable Oils is working with several end-users on test initiatives to build additional markets for camelina oil and co-products.  In January, Sustainable Oils sourced the camelina for Japan Airlines’ historic demonstration flight of a jet fueled in part by camelina.   Sustainable Oils has the largest camelina research program in the nation. The company’s camelina breeding program began in 2005 and has steadily expanded to include more than 40 trials across North America in 2008.  The company is also evaluating more than 90 breeding populations of camelina to analyze agronomic and oil qualities and to develop new high-yielding varieties. In addition, Sustainable Oils is a charter member of the first industry trade association for camelina, the North America Camelina Trade Association (NACTA).  NACTA members are working to promote research, production and the development of new markets for camelina.  NACTA also funded, through a grant from the Montana Department of Agriculture, a research study to determine the level of camelina meal which can be fed to poultry.  Members are working with the FDA and the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) to secure “Generally Recognized as Safe" certification for poultry and additional livestock species such as swine, beef cattle, and dairy cattle, to broaden revenue opportunities for growers of camelina. Sustainable Oils, a joint venture between Targeted Growth and Green Earth Fuels, was launched in late 2007 and is focused on the research, development and commercialization of camelina for biodiesel production.  Camelina, a relative of canola, requires less water and other inputs than many crops and can be harvested with traditional equipment.  When managed properly, camelina protects the soil profile for food crop rotations.  Therefore, camelina is complementary with traditional food crops and creates a “food plus fuels” scenario. Sustainable Oils plans to increase contracting opportunities for the 2010 production year across Montana and southern Canada. “We’re working to build a successful camelina industry on all fronts, including providing opportunities for growers, processors and end-users,” said Johnson.  “We thank all the growers who expressed interest in 2009 contracts. While we weren’t able to meet all of the demand this year, we look forward to working together in the 2010 growing season.”  Growers who are interested in additional information or contracting opportunities for the 2010 growing season should register on the Sustainable Oils web site at www.susoils.com. About Sustainable OilsSustainable Oils, Inc. is a producer and marketer of renewable, environmentally clean, and high-value camelina-based biodiesel.  A joint venture between Targeted Growth, Inc., a renewable energy bioscience company, and Green Earth Fuels, a vertically integrated biodiesel energy company, Sustainable Oils is focused on the continued research and development of dedicated energy crops such as camelina. Sustainable Oils solidly supports both agricultural and green energy initiatives with camelina, which is efficiently and economically grown even on marginal lands, harvested with traditional equipment, and requires minimal water. About Targeted GrowthTargeted Growth uses agricultural bioscience to enable the long term success of renewable fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol. This includes technology that improves the traits of crops themselves (yield increases, drought resistance, fertilizer requirements, etc.) and the ultimate performance of those crops once converted into biofuels (efficiency of refining, fuel performance characteristics). In addition, the company also develops, grows and markets biofuel specific crops (such as camelina) that are optimized and continually improved for use specifically as a feedstock for biofuels. The company has strategic partnerships with leading researchers and agribusinesses around the world. Targeted Growth is based in Seattle, Washington, with labs in Seattle, Saskatchewan, Ottawa and New Brunswick. More information is available at www.targetedgrowth.com. About Green Earth FuelsGreen Earth Fuels is a global, vertically integrated biodiesel energy company providing the requisite product quality, scalability, and streamlined logistics to reliably supply leading energy companies with renewable, environmentally clean and high-value biodiesel fuel and byproducts. Led by a team of energy industry veterans with decades of experience in global energy development and energy portfolio management, Green Earth Fuels is based in Houston, Texas, and is majority owned by Riverstone Holdings, LLC, The Carlyle Group, and Goldman Sachs. More information is available at www.greenearthfuelsllc.com