Guayule : an alternative source of natural rubber

THE REPORT IS THE PRODUCT OF THE PANEL ON GUAYULE, AN INTERNATIONAL PANEL OF BOTANISTS, AGRONOMISTS, ENGINEERS, CHEMISTS, RUBBER TECHNOLOGISTS, AND A RUBBER ECONOMIST. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES WERE TO ANALYZE GUAYULE"S STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS AS A MODERN, COMMERCIAL CROP, TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF UNCERTAINTY, TO JUDGE THE WISDOM OF RENEWED DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH, AND TO CONSIDER THE POTENTIAL OF GUAYULE FOR PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT AND ENABLING BETTER USE OF LAND ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS IN TEXAS, NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA. CONCLUSIONS WERE: 1) GUAYULE RUBBER AND HEVEA RUBBER HAVE VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. 2) THE DEMAND FOR ALL RUBBERS IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE WORLDWIDE, AND A MARKET FOR GUAYULE RUBBER IS ASSURED IF IT CAN BE SOLD AT A COMPETITIVE PRICE. 3) USING AGRICULTURAL TECHNIQUES AND RUBBER EXTRACTION METHODS IN USE WHEN GUAYULE RUBBER WAS LAST PRODUCED 30 YEARS AGO, IT IS DOUBTFUL IF THE PLANT WOULD BE A COMMERCIALLY VIABLE CROP TODAY. 4) GUAYULE HAS POTENTIAL TO BECOME IMPORTANT TO THE NATION"S ECONOMY AND SECURITY. 5) GUAYULE CULTIVATION EVENTUALLY MIGHT HELP INDIANS IN THE SOUTHWEST TO DEVELOP AN ECONOMIC BASE FOR THEIR RESERVATIONS. 6) GUAYULE HAS POTENTIAL TO BECOME AN IMPORTANT CROP IN SEVERAL REGIONS OF THE WORLD OUTSIDE OF ITS INDIGENOUS AREAS IN MEXICO AND THE U.S. RECOMMENDATIONS WERE: 1) THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SHOULD INITIATE A PROGRAM OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LEADING TO COMMERCIALIZATION OF THE GUAYULE PLANT. 2) THE U.S. AND MEXICAN GOVERNMENTS SHOULD COLLABORATE IN GUAYULE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 3) GUAYULE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN APPROPRIATE AREAS OF CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, AND TEXAS. 5) THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SHOULD CENTRALIZE ITS GUAYULE RECORDS AT A LOCATION IN THE SOUTHWEST ACCESSIBLE TO RESEARCHERS.