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NCGA
Promotes Corn-Derived, Multi-Purpose Fiber (1-30-02)
Most people don't
think about clothing and corn at the same time, but that could be changing
thanks to corn grower checkoff-funded research and development. Corn
checkoff investments from corn farmers in 19 states have allowed the
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) to partner with Cargill Dow
in researching a corn-derived material called polylactide. The substance,
called PLA, can be used for a number of non-traditional uses, such as
fibers to make clothing and plastics.
Cargill Dow took
the lead in constructing a plant that will produce plastic resin from
corn. The plant, the first of its kind, is in Blair, Neb., and NCGA
was involved in many aspects of support in the development of this new
product including funding research on various applications for PLA.
Cargill Dow recognized NCGA's outstanding industry leadership during
the plant's groundbreaking ceremony April 25, 2000.
"PLA is the
first of a new kind of corn-based product," said NCGA Customer
and Business Development Action Team Chairman and Oelwein, Iowa, corn
grower Vic Miller. "It is a polymer that can be made into fabric
for clothing, carpeting, furniture, plastic films and containers for
food and other product packaging.
"When used
for clothing," Miller continued, "PLA has some great characteristics
and can be used in athletic gear, among other applications. I think
customers will be pleased with the performance of these products and
their price."
PLA is getting attention
internationally, as well. The director of agriculture for the Japanese
External Trade Organization (JETRO) Akinari Maejima, said during a recent
visit to the NCGA headquarters in St. Louis that his organization was
very interested in the process and the advances it could bring to the
world market.
PLA is made by fermenting
the starch in the corn into lactic acid, which can be made into a form
of plastic. The Blair plant will use about 14 million bushels of corn
will be utilized annually, a significant step forward in the efforts
to use more of the 9.4 billion bushel U.S. crop. Miller said this modest
beginning is just a sign of things to come.
"This type
of research opens a whole new market for corn and corn growers,"
Miller said. "We're excited about the possibilities that PLA can
bring. This will be the first major commercial product in a whole new
renewable products industry.
"This is another
example of how NCGA invests grower checkoff dollars in research that
delivers. Programs like this develop technology that leads to new uses
and new markets for corn. And, this increases the opportunities for
grower profits," concluded Miller.
For more information
on research projects such as PLA, visit the NCGA website at http://www.ncga.com/research/main/index.html.
Last reviewed
January 30, 2002
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