February 13, 2009
Great Plains announces FDA's approval of camelina use in broiler feed
Great Plains, in Montana, US, announced on Monday (Feb 9) that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of camelina in broiler chicken feed.
FDA allowed Great Plains to state that camelina has ''generally recognised as safe'' (GRAS) status.
Camelina is already used in feed mixtures for beef cattle and hogs.
While high in protein and vitamin E, camelina is also a great source for omega-3 fatty acids which are beneficial in weight gain for the chickens.
Great Plains CEO Sam Huttenbauer said that as the market for camelina biofuel and feed expands, growers are gaining additional revenue opportunities for their harvest.
Great Plains is also working with Texas A&M University on an additional study of camelina as feed for egg-laying chickens that is expected to begin within the next several weeks.
Great Plains is a renewable fuels energy company founded with the purpose of manufacturing and marketing biofuel produced from camelina and has been working with the FDA to gain approval for the crop to be used as livestock feed for several years.