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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Linnaeus Plant Sciences Joins EU Consortium – Incorporates Dutch BV
Affiliate Smart Earth Seeds expands global Camelina production
SASKATOON (April 22) – Linnaeus Plant Sciences, the leading global Camelina enterprise, announces the formation of Linnaeus Plant Sciences BV, headquartered in Wageningen, The Netherlands.
This incorporation will allow Linnaeus to join a group of eighteen EU-based partners, of which 50% are SMEs and large enterprises and the remaining 50% are universities and research institutes. The research consortium is being managed by Wageningen UR Food & Biobased Research working under the program name COSMOS.
The European oleochemical industry relies on imported coconut and palm kernel oils for the production of plastics, surfactants, detergents, lubricants, plasticisers and other products. COSMOS aims to reduce this dependence by turning underutilised domestic oil crops Camelina and Crambe into profitable, sustainable, multipurpose, non-GMO European oil crops for the production of oleochemicals. Seed properties will be screened and oil profiles adapted to industrial needs. Field trials will assess cultivation practices, seed yield, oil content, ease of harvesting, and resource inputs.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our company to extend its footprint and develop Camelina on a global scale,” said Jack Grushcow CEO of Linnaeus Plant Sciences.
“Being the only North American company considered for possible participation in this program is further recognition of our leadership position in Camelina crop development worldwide.”
Under the research program Linnaeus will work with researchers in The Netherlands, Greece, Italy and Poland to develop superior varieties of Camelina suited for production in the EU. Linnaeus also will be providing expertise in value chain development and crop agronomy to support successful field trials and subsequent scale-up. COSMOS receives funding from the European Community’s Horizon 2020. A full list of COSMOS partners is found here.
Linnaeus Plant Sciences markets and contracts Camelina through our affiliate Smart Earth Seeds and the company is actively contracting acres in Western Canada for harvest this fall.
