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face indifference or opposition from other agricultural interest 

 unless the complementary nature of new use efforts are clear. 



CONCLUDING REMARKS 



While some ideas for new uses have been aroiind since the 193 0s, 

 there has been no consistent effort to make them commercially 

 viable. When surpluses were high, a big push occurred. When 

 supply was more in line with demand, interest waned. Now, 

 consistent commitment is more evident. For example, in 1991, 

 nontraditional uses (such as sweeteners, ethyl alcohol and 

 industrial starch) of corn equaled corn exports. By the year 2000, 

 industrial uses will consume an estimated 2.4 billion bushels of 

 corn -- a billion bushel increase! 



More than 3 0,000 acres of industrial rapeseed and crambe are grown 

 annually for lubricants, plastics and anti-foam agents. In 10 

 years, expect to see 300,000 acres of those crops. Biodiesel, 

 degradable starch polymers, adhesives, inks, paints, and paper 

 products from agricultural materials are other potential growth 

 areas . 



New technologies and scientific tools such as genetic engineering, 

 continuous- flow fermentation and chemical catalytic processes are 

 opening entirely new markets and uses for raw agricultural 

 products. As new markets develop, farmers and rural America will 

 become less dependent on federal farm program payments and 

 additional demand for renewable based products will more fully 

 utilize our agricultural capacity and infrastructure. 



