Castor beans, which were grown in Florida in World War II and which can produce some components of military jet fuel, are currently being studied by University of Florida scientists to determine if they can be successfully grown as a commercial crop in the Southeast.
Growing Georgia reported earlier this week (link) on some efforts by UF scientists to study water use by the plants to estimate water use needs for irrigation. Seed producers would need to first develop a cultivar free of the toxin ricin. The FAWN weather network is being used to determine evapotranspiration rates to help determine water use requirements.
