History and Current Position

  1. Production of natural rubber from TKS (Taraxacum kok-Saghyz) was demonstrated by the Russians and the United States. “Russian dandelion" as TKS (Taraxacum kok-Saghyz) became known was demonstrated to be a viable alternative to the production of Hevea Natural Rubber produced from trees only in Southeast Asia. Alternative sources have been a continuing objective for the agricultural industry, our national defense and our nation. Viable alternative sources to date have not demonstrated the economic viability to be a serious competitive alternative to the existing off shore source of supply from south East Asia.Russian Experience

  2. Rubber producing plants were discovered in Central Asia in the 1920’s. From 1928 to 1942, Russia domesticated and planted thousands of acres of Russian dandelion (Taraxacum kok-Saghyz) for use in production of military tires. Other species were also identified and are within the scope of the Delta Plant Technologies technologies.

United States’ Experience

  1. During World War II, the United States’ Emergency Rubber Project was used to investigate alternative natural sources of rubber and the development of synthetic rubber. Seeds of Taraxacum kok-Saghyz (TKS) were imported from Russia; TKS was grown in 28 states. Agronomic parameters and a pilot scale process were studied from 1942 to 1944. Experimental tires, with rubber produced from TKS, were built and tested. The results were TKS rubber was equal to Hevea NR and superior to guayule and synthetic GRS rubber.

  2. The TKS project was terminated at the end of the war. The US resumed importing natural rubber from Southeast Asia. The US Department of Agriculture report published by Whaley and Bowen (in June 1947 as Misc. Publication 618) forecast that Taraxacum kok-Saghyz (TKS) could be developed and commercialized as an alternative source of natural rubber for the United States. However development work was curtailed as synthetic rubber developments gained momentum. The expectation was that the newly discovered synthetic rubber would replace natural rubber and therefore eliminate the need for an alternative domestic source.

  3. This did not happen and natural rubber continues to account for 40% of total rubber consumption due to performance characteristics that have not been duplicated by synthetic rubber in more than 60 years.

  4. The key performance characteristics are: Adhesion to reinforcing materials, heat dissipation, and cut resistance.

  5. TKS is currently being grown in three states. The analysis of rubber content has been determined at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster, Ohio. These trials have successfully identified the TKS leaf morphology which is being applied at other growing locations. Root samples have been examined, a root breakage test was developed and plants in excess of 10% rubber content were isolated into an identified plant population which is being multiplied for spring propogation.

  6. A process for the extraction of NGR (high molecular weight cis 1,4–polyisoprene) rubber using a mechanical and water based system is being pursued.

Company History

Fred Anderson, a former Boeing Company executive, founded Delta Plant Technologies in 2002 Later he enlisted to his cause two former Goodyear executives, Bryan Kinnamon, who was an MIT classmate, and John Lawrence, the Vice President of Goodyear Research. Delta Plant Technologies is not a conventional start-up company. It is forming a foundation for a strategic new industry based on a platform technology.

The company has developed a comprehensive set of collaborators and built a talented board of advisors to help guide the company through the early development and commercialization processes. The board of advisors and collaborators are described in the management section of this business plan.