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KAYSVILLE, Utah (AP) -- Utah State University researchers are looking at the possibility of converting safflower seeds to biodiesel fuel at a profit.
Seeds were harvested Wednesday from a test plot of ground.
Researchers say the sides of Utah highways could be used to grow safflowers instead of the grasses that the Utah Department of Transportation pays $1.6 million a year to mow.
The Freeways to Fuel program is sponsored by UDOT and the National Biodiesel Board.
Researcher Dallas Hanks says vacant open space along roadways and near airports across the country could be used to grow safflowers.
Utah State University has formed an alliance with other universities to conduct similar research.
Hanks says he expects to know in the next few weeks how profitable his small crop will be.
Information from: Deseret News
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
