Montanans, we have struck gold! Not the gold rush of ’49- not the black gold of Texas, but a plant once thought as of a weed- a plant that can fuel our vehicles, fuel our bodies, and fuel our economy!
With fossil fuels rapidly depleting, the United States is in a race to find longer lasting, renewable, and cost-efficient fuels. And for a change, Montana is closing in on the lead!
All over the United States, scientists are trying to find alternative fuels for our vehicles to reduce our dependency on foreign oil. Here in Montana, researchers at Montana State University have found a plant, which just may fill the bill – Camelina. The researchers evaluated ten different oilseed plants in search of one that can be cultivated in Montana, survive the climate, and be the most economic to produce. The field was narrowed down to Canola and Camelina. At 3 cents per pound, 4.3 cents less than Canola, Camelina had won. At first, MSU scientists were only looking at camelina’s bio-fuel potential. They soon discovered several different ways this plant can be used: from bio-fuel, to benefiting livestock and human diets, and to helping Montana’s economy.
More than 6000 years ago, Camelina got its start in Northern Europe, where it was first known as the Gold of Pleasure. The early farmers grew the crop for several reasons. First, they harvested the seeds, then crushed and boiled them. The oil extracted could then be used for medicinal treatment and lamp oil. Given that Camelina is an edible oilseed plant, the oil was also used for culinary purposes. When more productive crops like wheat, canola, and flax were found, Camelina was looked upon as a weed - especially since it intruded the flax fields, earning itself a new name amongst the farmers, “False Flax”. Once Camelina found its way to the United States, we too only saw it as a weed until recently.
The United States is on a mission to find a healthier fuel for vehicles. The oil produced from Camelina can be used as bio-diesel. Bio-diesel is simply an alternative fuel. It is made up of 80-90% vegetable oil, 10-20% alcohol, and .35-1.5% catalyst. The only downside is a 5% decrease of power in diesel engines. However, the 5% power decrease is greatly outweighed by the benefits. Bio-diesel is extremely environmentally friendly. Being biodegradable and non-toxic, it produces much cleaner emissions.
It is true that vegetable oil, canola oil, and others can be used for the same thing. However, they are more expensive to produce. A gallon of vegetable oil costs $1.70 and a gallon of camelina is only about $1.40. With gas prices fluctuating, America is crying out for lower prices. The cheapest crop to process would definitely be America’s first choice.
When Camelina is processed, there are two by-products- Meal and oil. The plant starts out with extremely high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids, and doesn’t lose the nutrition after it has been processed. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for human nutrition because they cannot be synthesized in the body. Because of this, Camelina is a great candidate for use in animal and human diets.
By taking the meal and incorporating it into feed, for cows, poultry, pigs, and other livestock, it would not only benefit the animal, but it increases the omega-3 fatty acids in the livestock products. Recent research is suggesting that an increase of omega-3 fatty acid levels in the diet reduces cholesterol. That means if a chicken has been fed Camelina meal, the eggs will have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. When consumed by humans, the omega-3 acids will help reduce cholesterol, making the eggs a healthier part of the human diet.
That’s not the only way Camelina benefits human diets. By using the oil in bread, cereal, salad dressings, mayonnaise, and similar food products we can easily add camelina’s omega-3 fatty acids to our every day lives.
Not only is Camelina a healthy product for consumers, but it is ideal for Montana’s dry land farming. It has proved to be drought-resistant, frost-resistant and hail-resistant. In 2003 and 2004, hail storms in Havre, Montana, destroyed 60-70% of wheat and barley crops, where as no damage was reported on Camelina crops which were in full pod stage. Because this hearty plant grows well in Montana’s harsh environment, we can anticipate it to be a high-yielding agricultural product.
Finding a crop that can be fully utilized not only as a bio-diesel fuel but also as a viable feed source makes Camelina a valuable agricultural resource for Montana’s economy. When Montana researches went looking for oil, they struck gold- Camelina.
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