WALNUT, Calif., Oct. 9, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VIASPACE Inc. (OTCQB:VSPC) today announced that its proprietary, high yield, dedicated energy crop Giant King(TM) Grass has been released from quarantine by the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for distribution in the United States.
APHIS has the mission of protecting and promoting US agricultural health in support of the overall mission of the US Department of Agriculture which is to protect and promote food, agriculture, natural resources and related issues.
Giant King Grass was grown at the APHIS facility in Beltsville Maryland under the Plant Germplasm Quarantine Program. It was extensively tested for pathogens including analysis of the nucleic acid extract using E-Probe Diagnostic Nucleic Acids Analysis (EDNA). It was found to be pathogen free. After another inspection by the state of Maryland Department of Agriculture, which issued a phytosanitary certificate, the Giant King Grass was delivered to VIASPACE.
"VIASPACE is expanding its activities into the United States as part of our long-term strategy", reports CEO Dr. Carl Kukkonen. "Bioelectricity, biofuels, biochemicals, bioplastics and other biomaterials all require reliable, low cost biomass as fuel or feedstock. Our dedicated energy crop, Giant King Grass, has the highest yield of any crop in the world and meets these requirements."
VIASPACE Chairman of the Board, Dr. Kevin Schewe commented, "We have developed a well-defined and ambitious strategy to build shareholder value anchored in our unique corporate expertise and our vision for expanding the global footprint of Giant King Grass. Our shareholders will see that we are simultaneously executing that strategy in Southeast Asia and now actively here in the Americas."
About VIASPACE Inc.
VIASPACE grows Giant King Grass as a low-carbon fuel for electricity generating power plants; for energy pellets; and as a feedstock for bio methane production and cellulosic biofuels, biochemicals and biomaterials. For more information, please go to www.VIASPACE.com or contact Dr. Jan Vandersande, Director of Communications, at 800-517-8050 or IR@VIASPACE.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Information in this news release includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation, risks outlined in our periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as well as general economic and business conditions; the ability to acquire and develop specific products and technologies; changes in consumer and business demand for the Company's products; competition from larger companies; changes in demand for alternative and clean energy; risks associated with international transactions; risks related to technological change; and other factors over which VIASPACE has little or no control.
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