Delta Plant Technologies (DPT) is developing a sustainable domestic source of natural rubber (NR). The alternative natural rubber “New Global Rubber” (NGR) is derived from the plant TKS (Taraxacum kok-saghyz), native to central Asia. It is generically known as the Russian Dandelion. DPT’s business is to develop, commercialize and build an industry to produce and distribute NGR.

This alternative source of natural rubber, NGR, is critical for our strategic defense and our national economy, is based on renewable resources, the process is environmentally friendly and this new industry will make a significant contribution to the improvement of the rural economies.

TKS and the NGR production process also yields a value added feed stream which can be converted to ethanol to address our requirements for alternative fuels

Why do we need natural rubber?

The largest single use of natural rubber is in tire manufacturing and is therefore critical to the economy of most developed countries. Natural rubber is a strategic raw material because of its importance to the consumer, commercial and military sectors. The rubber used in earthmover and aircraft tires is nearly all natural rubber.

Why do we need another source of natural rubber?

Because natural rubber is 100% imported and is a strategic raw material with no guarantee against supply interruptions it is imperative that a domestic source be developed. Developing a domestic source is essential to our national security, domestic economy and will make a significant contribution to the improvement of our rural economies.

Why does Delta Plant Technologies think it can produce natural rubber in the United States?

The simple answer is because it has already been done. During World War II, when supplies of natural rubber were cut off by the Japanese invasion of Southeast Asia, a national initiative known as the “Emergency Rubber Act” was enacted by the United States Congress. The USDA and the US Forest Service obtained Taraxacum kok-saghyz seeds from the Soviet Union and grew plants that produced rubber that was tested successfully in tires. Even though not native to this country this plant will grow in the northern third of the US and southern Canada. In addition to natural rubber Taraxacum kok-saghyz also manufactures a complex sugar known as inulin in large quantities. Inulin can be readily converted to ethanol to help satisfy our nation’s thirst for alternative fuels..

What about the rubber producing, desert shrub, guayule?

Decades of research on guayule have failed to yield a technically and economically successful solution to our nation’s need for a domestic source of rubber. Our economic models for Taraxacum kok-saghyz are much more promising.

Expertise and Experience:

The business is based on thousands of acres of successful Soviet Union NR production and the feasibility study conducted in 1942-1944 as a part of the Emergency Rubber Project established by the United States Congress in response to rubber shortages in WWII. Foundation seed and prior research was accessed through a strategic relationship with Uzbekistan. DPT principals, advisory board, two tire companies and four universities provide extensive new crop, agronomics, breeding, bio-processing, rubber industry, and commercial business experience. Delta is designated as a strategic project of The Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center (OBIC), a Wright Center of Innovation established by the Ohio’s Third Frontier. Progress includes test plots established in 3 states, proof of concept demonstrated for rubber extraction and carbohydrate conversion to ethanol, and tire company commitments to tire tests.

Products:

A sustainable domestic bio-based alternative to natural rubber and raw materials for ethanol production. Alternative domestically produced natural rubber and ethanol are critical components of the US economy and strategic defense. NR is supplied from S.E. Asia using a labor intensive process. With increased demand and decreased supply a critical shortage has developed; prices have more than doubled in the last 24 months. This situation is forecast to continue. The only solution, other than a NR alternative, is massive government initiatives in SE Asia to increase the Hevea plantings and assure adequate labor availability.

Competition:

Competitors for TKS derived natural rubber is Hevea from S.E. Asia, guayule and possible breakthrough technology in synthetics.

Markets:

The NR rubber market is $20B globally and $2.8 Billion in the US and is critical to the $200B rubber products market where the major application is tires. NR cannot be replaced without sacrifices in performance and durability. Other applications are automotive and industrial components, medical, footwear and adhesives.

The US ethanol market is currently 5B gallons annually with an additional 4B gallon of capacity under construction. This is a $20B market and is growing at +20% annually. The primary ethanol use is for fuel ethanol and E-85 fuel. DOE has a stated objective of supplying 30% of US liquid fuel from renewable, domestic bio-materials by 2025. This will require 70B gallons of ethanol.