Agricultural Research Service scientists in the US are developing a peanut that could elbow other biodiesels out of the market.

Scientists at the ARS National Peanut Research Laboratory in Georgia are testing a peanut called Georganic, along with 23 similar varieties which it are not edible, but are high in oil and low in production costs.

Traditionally, peanuts are higher in oil than other biofuels such as soya beans, producing around 120 gallons of fuel per acre compared to the 50 gallons per acre that soya beans produce. However, because of high production costs, peanuts have been ruled out as a possible biofuel.

However, Georganic can be planted and grown with just one herbicide application for weed control, compared to the three or four applications typically sprayed during a growing season for edible peanuts; and without fungicide, which are the greatest costs in traditional peanut production.

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