Release No. 0134.96

                                     Laura Trivers (202) 720-4623
                                     Ron Buckhalt  (202) 690-1624

GLICKMAN ACCEPTS REPAYMENTS FOR AARC CENTER 

     WASHINGTON, Mar. 20, 1996--As part of National Agriculture Day,
Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman recognized the work of two companies taking
part in a U.S. Department of Agriculture venture capital program. 

     The two companies -- BioPlus, Inc., of Ashburn, Georgia, and Aquinas
Technologies of St. Louis -- today repaid part of the investments made in
these firms by the Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization
(AARC) Center.  The AARC Center is the only venture capital organization in
the Federal government making equity available to commercialize industrial
(non-food, non-feed) uses for agricultural materials and animal by products. 
Aquinas repaid $24,090.10 and BioPlus repaid $22,746.53.

     In accepting the repayment Glickman said, "On National Ag Day we
traditionally honor farm families for their contributions to agriculture and
to our country.  It is especially appropriate to honor today companies like
BioPlus and Aquinas.  They are creating new, innovative products by adding
value to agricultural materials.  And, in the process, they also create jobs
and add value back into their communities.  I applaud their work and the
progress they are making." 

     BioPlus, Inc., and Aquinas Technologies are the third and fourth
companies to begin repaying the AARC Center.  Bio Plus uses a waste product --
peanut hulls -- for flushable cat litter and as the carrier base for crop
protection materials.  Aquinas Technologies produces and markets ethanol-based
products made from corn, including windshield washer fluid. 

     In 1995, the Leahy-Wolf company of Franklin Park, Illinois was the first
company to begin repaying the AARC Center.  Leahy-Wolf uses crambe, or
rapeseed oil, to make a biodegradable release agent for wooden forms used in
concrete construction.  The second royalty payment was received from Natural
Fibers of Ogallala, Nebraska.  Natural Fibers fills pillows and comforters
with milkweed floss and markets the hypo-allergenic product internationally.

     Since 1993 the AARC Center has invested $21 million in 54 projects in 28
states and has leveraged an additional $73 million in private sector funds.

     The two royalty checks received today will be placed in the AARC
Center's revolving fund and reinvested in other companies.  Initial
investments by the AARC Center often result in additional USDA investments by
the business and industry guaranteed loan program of the Rural
Business/Cooperative Service.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: A black and white glossy print of the AARC Center ceremony
will be available Thursday, March 21, from the Photography Center, Rm. 4404-S,
Office of Communications, USDA, Washington, DC 20250; Telephone (202) 720-6633.  The press release and photograph are also available on PressLink, a
member/subscriber electronic media bulletin board.

USDA news release and media advisories are available on the Internet.  Access
the USDA Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.usda.gov