Excellent Animal Feed Test Results for VIASPACE Giant King Grass

WALNUT, Calif., Nov. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- VIASPACE Inc. (OTCQB: VSPC) today announced new laboratory test results on Giant King^TM Grass as animal feed.  The Giant King Grass was harvested at the VIASPACE nursery in California and the tests were conducted by Dairy One in Ithaca, New York, one of the world's premier forage testing laboratories.

Young Giant King Grass first harvested on November 11, 2013 at a height of 3 to 4 feet tall had a crude protein (CP) level of 19.5% of dry matter, with 34% acid detergent fiber (ADF), 55.5% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 67% total digestible nutrients (TDN) and net energy of lactation (NEL) of 0.64 Mcal/lb.  These figures are comparable to alfalfa which is the top forage crop and commands the highest prices.

Results were reported previously on Giant King Grass cut on July 11, 2013. This was a third growth and the height was 4 to 6 feet, with CP of 15.6%, 38.9% ADF, 64.1% NDF, 59.8% TDN and NEL of 0.57. These figures are comparable to oat or sorghum hay with 50% more protein.

Harvest of third growth Giant King Grass at a height of 4 to 7.5 feet on November 11, 2013 had CP of 10.5%, 37.4% ADF, 66.3% NDF, 64% TDN and NEL of 0.55. These figures are also comparable to oat or sorghum hay with slightly higher protein.  Giant King Grass is much better than cornstalks.  This harvest was a bit older and taller and had more stalks then the July 11, 2013 harvest.

"These new animal feed results confirm that Giant King Grass is an excellent source for animal feed," states CEO Dr. Carl Kukkonen.  From our studies, it is apparent that Giant King Grass behaves like other forage crops in that younger, shorter and more tender plants have higher protein and lower fiber which is advantageous for some applications.  Slightly older plants produce more dry matter, with lower protein and more fiber. Animals need both protein and dry matter (fiber) and both types of animal feed are needed in the marketplace.  Dairy cows and feedlot cattle are typically fed a Total Mixed Ration (TMR) of forage, grains, protein supplements, minerals and vitamins that are thoroughly mixed to meet the nutritional needs of the animal. If the forage has higher nutritional value, less supplements are required which lowers the cost of feeding the animals."

Kukkonen continued, "The advantage of Giant King Grass is its very high yield, and the fact that it is perennial which means that replanting every year is not required. The data shows that Giant King Grass nutritional value can be as good as alfalfa when cut short, and oat or sorghum hay when it is cut taller--but with twice the yield and you don't have to replant every year.  This means lower cost of production and higher profits for the grower.  In addition to the announced animal feed project in Arizona, VIASPACE is pursuing multiple other animal feed opportunities."

VIASPACE Chairman, Dr. Kevin Schewe, commented: "The U.S. domestic and international animal feed markets are enormous, growing in demand and confirm an immediate and significant market and revenue source for VIASPACE and its shareholders. The current demand for animal feed represents a sales equivalent of U.S. $300 billion worldwide and is projected to double by 2050. VIASPACE and its business partners can initiate and implement Giant King Grass animal feed projects anywhere in the world with suitable climate and irrigation/rainfall very quickly with lower capital cost than our power plant projects. The first U.S. commercial plantings of Giant King Grass for animal feed are currently underway with VIASPACE and SynTawa Energy in Arizona. We expect increased demand for Giant King Grass in low-frost areas of the U.S. Southeast, Southwest and Hawaii in addition to our documented global outreach. The Giant King Grass test results from the Dairy One laboratory are superb and serve to strengthen our position with our new animal feed clients."

A picture of the Giant King Grass harvested on November 11, 2013 in California is available on the VIASPACE Facebook page www.facebook.com/viaspaceinc.

About VIASPACE Inc.

VIASPACE grows renewable Giant King^TM Grass as a low-carbon fuel for clean electricity generation; for environmentally friendly energy pellets; and as a feedstock for bio-methane production and for green cellulosic biofuels, biochemicals and biomaterials. Giant King Grass is a proprietary, high yield, dedicated biomass clean energy crop. Giant King Grass when it is cut frequently at 3 to 7 feet tall is also excellent animal feed. For more information, please go to www.VIASPACE.com or contact Dr. Jan Vandersande, Director of Communications, at 800-517-8050 or [email protected].

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 those 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, 2012, and other factors over which VIASPACE has little or no control.

SOURCE VIASPACE Inc.