In 1998 a project to develop polyacetide(PLA) was launched by Cargill Inc. The project goad was to established by new product and value opportunities for starch processed by the company. Dr. Pat Gruber,now vice president and chief technology officer for Cargill Dow,was the initiator and project champion. Along with a small group of scientists, Dr.Gruber developed key processes for conversion of lactic acid into lactide,andprocesses and technologies for purificationand polymerization/devolatilization of lactide. In 1994 the company built a 5000 mertric tons per year PLA facility in savage,Minnesota to prove and further develop lactic acid to PLA technology on a semi-works scale and tocatalyzethe development of a commercial market for PLA.In early 1995 Cargill realized it needs a partner with a strong presence in the polymer market. Cargill assembled a list of partner attributes and Dow emerged as the best candidate. In November 1997 Cargill Dow LLc was founded asa 50/50 joint venture between Cargill Inc and The Dow Chemical Company to pursue the commercialization of PLA polymerunder the trade name NatureWorkTM