Conti expands dandelion research with new German plant breeder

HANOVER, Germany—Continental A.G.'s Taraxagum project, which aims to produce natural rubber from dandelions, has expanded its research network with the addition of plant breeder Kartoffelzucht Boehm GmbH & Co.

With the new partner, the project aims to gain "even greater clout" in the breeding of dandelions, said Conti in Sept. 27 statement.

"Internationally active" Kartoffelzucht Boehm specializes in the breeding of cultivated plants, said Conti, noting that it will be "an ideal" partner for the project.

Supported by the European Union, German federal government and the State of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, the Taraxagum project aims to industrialize the cultivation of dandelion rubber over the long term.

The rubber will be used in the production of various types of rubber goods and tires, including passenger cars, truck and bus, as well as farm tires.

In addition to Boehm and Conti, other project partners include the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, the University of Muenster, the Julius Kuehn Institute and plant breeder Eskusa.