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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #62243
Title: EFFICIENT UTILIZATION OF BOTANICAL RESOURCES

Author
item Abbott Dr, Thomas
item Carlson, Kenneth
item Erhan, Selim
item Isbell, Terry
item Kleiman, Robert

Submitted to: United States Japan Joint Protein Research Panels
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Annually renewable plant resources have provided our needs for food, clothing, energy, medicine and shelter. We can more efficiently utilize the plant resources we have if we develop processes with less waste and choose those plants which most efficiently provide for our needs. Less waste means optimizing recoveries in existing processes and developing valuable coproducts from all parts of the plant. Jojoba is one example of a plant that produces novel oil with a high consumer demand, but until recently the rest of the jojoba seed components were regarded as almost useless. Processing to recover these components and research to identify new uses have revealed that all of the seed components are valuable and none should be wasted. New crops can be selected to meet many needs currently being met with non-renewable petroleum resources. Examples from NCAUR research include jojoba, lesquerella, crambe, vernonia, Euphorbia lagascae and others. The opportunities for new and better products from new crops have been only slightly explored. The uniqueness of oils, gums and bioactive constituents from new crops, combined with innovative chemistry, has resulted in new products that have not been previously available from any source.