FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2009

Local Pre-Teen “Plants Seeds" of an Idea Which Could Result in Locally Produced Bio-Diesel

Ag-Oil plans to Build and Operate a Pilot-Scale Non-Food Oilseed Biodiesel Production Facility and Algae-based Integrated Biorefinery

Delray Beach, FL – Ag-Oil, a woman owned local business, has begun growing the jatropha plant which seeds when processed along with algae has shown the potential to become bio-diesel. Ag-Oil will develop a state-of-the-art biofuel refinery and a commercial scale oilseed processing facility on their existing jatropha plantation. This project has the potential to yield an annual capacity of 15 million gallons of bio-diesel while utilizing production equipment which easily processes multiple feedstocks.

In 2008 the 5th grade class at Pine Crest School in Boca Raton was learning about renewable energy sources. One of the students in the class was Ag-Oil owner, Teri Gevinson’s daughter, Sloane. After learning about how some plants can produce oil she asked her mother, “why can’t you grow one of these types of plants on your open farm land?” Gevinson explained and we immediately got up from the dinner table and researched different plants which led us to Jatropha. “Who would have thought that such a big business idea as well a potential independent energy advancement would come from the mouth of an 11 year old as opposed to the professionals I work with” Gevinson exclaimed.

This project has the potential to create 276 direct job positions and 2,741 indirect jobs over the course of 5-years. Once completed and fully operational, the biofuel facility and feedstock propagation activities will maintain an estimated 128 direct jobs and 915 indirect jobs annually.

With tough times hitting Florida’s farmers, from high fertilizer costs to citrus canker and citrus greening new agriculture opportunities are sorely needed. Jatropha has the potential to be a savior for farmers while also providing Florida with huge economic opportunities, improved air quality and public health and the opportunity to help the US gain energy independence. Current reaction from Economists, University Professors and Entrepreneurs regarding growing Jatropha in the US has drawn concern due to the manual labor harvest that is presently required. Jatropha is already successful in foreign farming where manual labor is much less expensive and where the agricultural environment for hand picking is more common. However, Ag-Oil has identified and demonstrated a mechanical harvester for Jatropha. Ag-Oil’s plantation will be harvested with this new technology which makes Jatropha planting in the United States a viable and economically stimulating alternative for farmers everywhere but specifically in Florida. Additionally, the creation of the Ag-Oil biodiesel processing facility will provide farmers with the assurance that there is a means to bring their Jatropha crop to market.