Breeding and engineering non-food crops for biodiesel

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Breeding and engineering non-food crops for
biodiesel
State of Israel / Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development ARO Agricultural Research
Organization
Yedidya Gafni Institute of Plant Sciences

• Agricultural Research Organization (VOLCANI
  Center)
• P.O.B. 6, Bet-Dagan, 50250 Israel
• Tel [phone] / Fax [phone]

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• Using biomass for energy

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Bio-Fuels

• Type of Renewable Energy (derived from the Sun).
• Biofuels are liquid fuels made from esters,
  alcohols, ethers, and other biomass chemicals
  (Source US Dept. of Energy).
• Common biofuels include ethanol and biodiesel.
• Ethanol is made from starches / sugars.
• Biodiesel is an ester made from vegetable oils,
  animal fats or other types of biomass.

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Biodiesel (bio-petroleum diesel)

• B100 100 biodiesel / B20 20 / B5 5 / B2
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• Production process Transesterification (of oil)
• Main crops used for producing biodiesel
• Rapeseed (Europe)
• Soybean (US)
• Jatropha (Africa, India)
• Castor Bean (Africa, China, S. America)
• Palm Oil (Tropical areas)
• More
• Other oil-enriched crops Coconut, Brazil nuts,
  Jojoba, Peanuts, Cotton seed, Sunflower, and many
  more.

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Schematic of the Transesterification process
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BIODIESEL Final Product
Biodiesel 100
Glycerin
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• BioDiesel is here

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From the Farmer to the Fuel Tank
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BioDiesel A better fuel vs. Diesel
Benefits
Features

• Higher cetane
• Greater lubricity
• Superior detergency
• Higher flash point

• More mileage
• Greater horsepower
• Less smoke
• Smoother running engines
• Quicker starts
• Longer engine life
• Reduced maintenance

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Biodiesel Advantages

• Produced from renewable materials eco friendly
  / closed CO cycle.
• Local self production less reliance on
  foreign oil.
• Contains practically no sulfur (0.001) non
  toxic.
• Considerably decreases emissions (up to 50).
• Easily decomposes does not harm soil or ground
  water.
• Biodiesel is not hazardous material (flashpoint
  above 110C).
• Eligible as fuels under international standards
  specifications (world-wide).
• Eligible for CDM (Clean Development Mechanism -
  Kyoto Treaty).
• More

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Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Carbon
Credits (CER)

• .. the mechanism of the Kyoto Treaty (CDM) is
  now in force to reduce industrial commercial
  greenhouse gas emissions planting of bio-fuel
  crops may well create carbon sinks that can earn
  cash through their sale of emissions credits to
  polluting industries in developed countries.
• The potential of acquiring GHG reductions, in
  the form of CER, for bio-diesel projects is about
  3 tons of CO reduction per year (3 CER) for
  every ton of petroleum replaced.
• Current price for 1 CER is about US 5 - 7.

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Biodiesel Drawbacks

• Biodiesel can be corrosive to rubber materials.
• Biodiesel is not necessarily more economic than
  regular diesel. Depend on the plants, their
  related processes and, other incentives.
• Biodiesel can last up to 6 months. In 6-12 months
  need to be treated.

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Biodiesel Refineries / Plants (EU)
75 of total biodiesel production belong to 4
corporations ADM (Archer Daniels Midland),
Cargill, Bunge Saipol
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US Existing BD Plants
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US Biodiesel Market
US Biodiesel Consumption
US Biodiesel Plants 65 operating plants
(capacity 400M gal/yr) 50 - construction
(capacity 700M gal/yr) (Source National
Biodiesel Board, Apr. 2006)
US Biodiesel Production
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The EU Biodiesel Market
Source European Biodiesel Board, 2006
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Projections 2006 5B L/yr 2010 12B L/yr 2020
25B L/yr
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World Production of Biodiesel 2005 - 2010
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US 18
75
Source Biodiesel 2020 Global Market
Survey, Oct. 2006
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2005 Western Europe (D, FR, IT, UK, etc.) main
producers and consumers 75 of world Eastern
Europe N. America 2nd largest markets Asia
although significant market yet, relatively small
2010 Western Europe (D, FR, IT, UK) main
producers and consumers 38 of world Asia
will become the 2nd largest market (China, India
consumption production) Eastern Europe N.
America 3rd largest markets, with US as the
single largest consumer 18 of world
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Biodiesel Crops Yields
Oil Content US gal/acre Liters oil/ha Kg oil/ha Crop
50 - 55 151 1413 1188 Castor beans
70 287 2689 2260 Coconut
12 18 172 145 Corn (maize)
13 - 15 35 325 273 Cotton
30 - 35 202 1892 1590 Jatropha
35 635 5950 5000 Palm oil
36 113 1059 890 Peanuts
37 127 1190 1000 Rapeseed
15 48 446 375 Soybean
32 102 952 800 Sunflower
Source www.journeyforever.com Jan. 2007 This
data is compiled from a wide variety of sources.
The yield figures are most useful as comparative
estimates, crop yields vary widely.
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ARO Biodiesel

• The ARO (also known as The VOLCANI Center)
  aims at becoming the 'ultimate knowledge base'
  regarding complete Seed to Harvest processes
  of two selected plant types
• Jatropha curcas and Castor bean

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• Jatropha curcas - small shrub native of C.
  America and a member of the Euphorbia family, it
  is a drought-resistant perennial, living up to 50
  years and growing on marginal soils.
• Oil content 35
• Oil Not Edible.
• Other oil uses None

• Castor bean - drought-resistant, annual plant of
  tropical origin with immense spread-out. The
  plant can grow between 2 to 5 m.
• Oil soluble in alcohol (no heat) fit for
  biodiesel
• Oil content 55
• Oil Not Edible (high level of Ricinoleic Acid
  85).
• Other oil uses Over 700

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The Research Team

• Prof. Yedidya Gafni Head of Team.
• In charge of developing tissue culture
  transformation protocols.
• Dr. Yiftach Vaknin In charge of the Jatropha
  curcas project.
• Dr. Oren Ostersetzer In charge of the Castor
  bean project.
• Dr. Samuel Gan-Mor In charge of developing
  mechanical harvesting machines.
• Prof. Dani Shteinberg In charge of the studies
  of plant diseases.
• Dr. Asher Bar-Tal In charge of the studies of
  soil chemistry and plant nutrition and
  fertilization.

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ARO's 'Biodiesel Plants Package of Knowledge'
include ICM (Integrated Crop Management)
complete research on the following process
Jatropha curcas Superior Varieties
Development Complete Cultivation
Process Harvest Post Harvest IP Protection
Complete Field Support -------- Seeds
Growth Yield Harvest ...
Castor bean Superior Varieties Development
Complete Cultivation Process Harvest Post
Harvest IP Protection Complete Field Support
-------- Seeds Growth Yield
Harvest ...
Genetics Breeding -------- Seed / Tissues
Water Soil Technologies -------- Growth
(cultivation)
Phytopathology Entomology -------- Growth
(cultivation)
Mechanization Engineering -------- Harvest,
Collection Post-Harvest
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ARO Advantages for BD Crops

• Unique patented (PBR) varieties with superior
  characteristics for
• Fast growth rate.
• Better yields.
• Increased oil content (in the seeds).
• Regulated fruition and harvest (opposed to wild,
  un-regulated fruition).
• Lower toxicity of Castor bean plants (the oil is
  non-toxic).
• Complete match to various climates, soil type
  composition, water, etc.
• Pre-determined plant's shape size suitable
  for mechanical harvesting.
• High resistance to pests diseases.
• Development of mechanical harvesting machinery.
• Complete professional support and guidance in
  cultivation of Pilot Plantation at any location
  of potential project.

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Jatropha as living hedge in Ethiopia
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• 158.987296

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Castor varieties in our collection
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Ornamental Castor plant
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• What can genetic engineering contribute?

• Make plants give higher oil yields for making
  biodiesel
• Enhance the oxidative stability of the oil
• Render plants resistant to biotic stress
• Resistance to viruses (ACMV?), fungi, bacterial
  diseases, nematodes and insects and more.
• Render plants resistant to abiotic stress
• Salinity, drought, heat, cold marginal soils and
  more.
• Control plants height for mechanical harvesting

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Regeneration of Jatropha curcas in tissue culture
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• Thank You

Come see us at The Volcani Center
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• 158.987296