February 7, 2006

Renessen announces hybrid corn engineered for animal feed
 

A pilot fractionation plant in Iowa opening next month may be the birthplace of a new generation of high-tech feed which can be processed into either ethanol or animal feed.

The plant, located in Eddyville, Iowa will be the first to process Renessen's corn hybrid, Mavera high-value corn with high lysine. Mavera is a corn hybrid engineered for animal feed. The corn has Food & Drug Administration's approval and will be ready for planting as soon as it receives clearance from the US Department of Agriculture, Renessen's chief executive officer Dr. Michael Stern said.

Renessen is a joint venture Cargill and Monsanto formed in 1999 to advance innovations in animal feeds.

Stern believes the high-lysine corn would transform the biotech industry as it is the first time a feed quality trait has been added to a corn hybrid. The new processing facility aims to produce high-value distillers dried grains (DDG) suitable for swine and poultry feed using the new technology for ethanol production.

Separation of the corn fractions in the plant will generate a corn oil stream that can be used either for food or biodiesel, Stern said. Mavera, with a higher oil content than other standard corns, is particularly suited for this role.

If successful, the process could also ease competition in areas where feed mills compete against ethanol plants for corn. Currently, DDG produced in conventional ethanol plants is suited primarily for cattle feed. Other biotech corn and soybean products with enhanced feed quality traits are in the company's pipeline.

Renessen combines Monsanto's expertise in genetics, biotechnology and agronomy with Cargill's skills in grain processing, animal nutrition and logistics, Stern explained. Renessen will use the pilot facility to test its engineering design and to gather data on production. The company hopes to commercialise the process in 2009.