A three-year research project, designed to enhance the oil production in soybeans for biodiesel feedstock, has been unveiled by the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St Louis today (30th April). The project is being supported to the tune of $1.2 million by the National Biodiesel Board and the US Department of Transport.

"This grant is yet another of the Danforth Center’s unique partnerships for supporting basic plant science research. In this case, the partnership will address the pressing needs for more efficient methods to produce fuels from renewable plant sources," said Danforth Center President Dr. Roger N. Beachy. "We greatly appreciate the support of Senator Kit Bond and his staff in facilitating the relationship between the Danforth Center and the National Biodiesel Board in an effort to increase the oil feedstock for biodiesel production."

"We are proud to support the Danforth Center as researchers there look for ways to get more bang for the buck from each soybean seed," said NBB CEO Joe Jobe. "Increasing the oil feedstock supply is vital to the rapidly expanding biodiesel industry. Soybean oil is one of the primary feedstock sources used in the production of biodiesel, and we hope this research will increase the soy oil supply. Plus, whatever advances are made on beans will have a high likelihood of being transferred to other oilseed crops – other biodiesel sources."

Danforth Center Principal Investigator Dr. Jan Jaworski will lead the research project which will be focused on increasing the oil produced in soybean seeds by altering specific biochemical pathways that are embedded within the soybean plant.

"We will undertake a new approach to enhancing the production of soy oil with a goal of increasing the percentage of oil produced in each seed," Dr. Jaworski explained. "While this approach is new, we are confident our results will lead to increased oil production without reducing the amount of protein in the seeds: soy protein is an important source of food and feed."

"Increasing the efficiency of renewable biofuels from plants is vital to America’s drive for energy independence and is critical to improving our environment. Making biofuels more efficient puts America one step closer to a stable home-grown energy supply and I applaud the partnership of the Danforth Center and the National Biodiesel Board for their leadership and vision," said U.S. Senator from Missouri Kit Bond.