News
Linnaeus Plant Sciences to receive $1.2 million

Sept. 8, 2011 – Linnaeus Plant Sciences Inc. is pleased to announce $1.2 million support from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), an arm's-length, not-for-profit corporation created by the Government of Canada, to further advance production of green alternatives to petroleum oils.

SDTC support will help Linnaeus advance production of camelina and safflower-based oils as renewable feedstock that can substitute for petroleum in a variety of high-value, non-fuel applications including polymers, lubricants, surfactants and other valuable industrial materials.

"Through our support for cutting-edge clean energy technology we are creating high-quality jobs and protecting our environment," said Minister of Natural Resources Joe Oliver. "This project demonstrates our leadership in driving technology innovation to help create a vibrant clean energy industry in Canada."

"We're interested in a greener, more sustainable future for farmers and for all Canadians," said Linnaeus' President and CEO, Jack Grushcow. "This is significant support from SDTC. It will help us position these crops as viable substitutes for petroleum in a range of important products. Work being done in the laboratory and on the farm will help shape a more carbon-neutral planet for future generations. We are committed to ensuring that these crops deliver products that command sufficient value to allow the entire value chain to operate at a fair profit."

"Technologies that will help Canada become less dependent on fossil fuels while creating value for farmers will be key in the country's transition to a green economy," said SDTC President and CEO Vicky Sharpe. "We are pleased to be adding this promising project to our portfolio."

Linnaeus Plant Sciences has developed an integrated process to produce a variety of value-added, renewable, industrial feedstocks from camelina and safflower, for use in various industrial applications.

The result of the SDTC funded project will deliver two valuable new rotation crops to Canadian farmers. These crops do not compete with food crops, are short season, drought tolerant and provide renewable substitutes to petroleum without the associated pollution and greenhouse gas production.

Development of this technology is expected to bring millions of acres of drought prone or marginal agricultural land into production, while reducing soil and nitrogen loss and GHG emissions.

Linnaeus has a licensing agreement with DuPont to use oil gene intellectual property, advanced gene technologies and biotechnology expertise developed by DuPont to accelerate the development and commercialization of camelina as a non-food industrial feedstock. Linnaeus also has developed lines of camelina and safflower (in collaboration with SemBioSys) that produce Hydroxy Fatty Acids such as Castor Oil which are key components in the production of polymers and lubricants

Linnaeus markets its bio-based lubricant products under its Smart Earth Corporation ™ brand.

"This support is yet another endorsement of our research work to date. It helps us move to the next-step: scaled-up production of a range of Made-In-Canada sustainable oils for the oleochemical and manufacturing sectors," said Grushcow.

The Linnaeus oil seed development team is based in the National Research Council's Plant Biotechnology Institute in Saskatoon.

For more information, go to the Linnaeus Plant Sciences website at www.linnaeus.net