Mendel, BP sign four-year power miscanthus trial pact

In California, Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. and BP Biofuels have signed a four-year agreement to conduct a demonstration field trial of Mendel’s PowerCane Miscanthus and evaluate its performance as feedstock for biofuel production at BP Biofuels’ demonstration plant at Jennings, Louisiana.

A total of 100 acres of PowerCane(TM) Miscanthus will be planted in early 2012 near BP’s Jennings facility and the first biomass harvest from these fields is expected in 2013.