Before World War II, Joseph Stalin wanted to decrease the USSR’s
dependence on foreign rubber supplies. He ordered his researchers to find
a natural alternative that could be grown in Russia. The result was
koksaghyz, which is native to Kazakhastan.
The United States began experimenting with the plant during World War II,
after the Japanese conquered Malaysia and froze the rubber supply. It was
grown in several areas, including the Klamath Basin, and was reported to
have fared well.
A series of events made the world forget about kok-saghyz. The Russians
lost their stock of varieties after becoming a democratic republic, and
didn’t maintain storage units.
The British requested the U.S. government destroy their supply of the
plant after World War II to preserve the British interest in Malaysia.
“Basically, everyone forgot about this thing,” Ehrensing said.
Cooper Tires, Titan Industries and Goodyear have expressed interest in the
new rubber source, he said.
No special machinery would be needed for harvest. The rubber has been
considered equal to or better than the rubber tree product.
The biggest benefit would be that farmers could begin harvesting a year
after planting instead of waiting seven years needed for a rubber tree to
mature, Ehrensing said.
— Ty Beaver
