Since 1750 the Connemann family has worked with products from renewable raw materials such as vegetable oils, maize, flax and wood, and in 1887 the first German oilseed extraction plant was established in Leer by the Connemann family. In 1987 Joosten Connemann sold the oil milling part of the family enterprise to Oelmuehle Hamburg AG, belonging to ADM (Archer Daniels Midland Company, Decatur, IL, USA),and became general manager of the new Oelmuehle Leer Connemann GmbH & Co.

Dr. Joosten Connemann, a visionary entrepreneur and qualified chemist and engineer, laid the foundation for German development of Biodiesel when he and his team developed the CD-PROCESS/Connemann-ADM ) for the production of high quality biodiesel which in two upscaling steps was realized. He applied the use of the process in continuously operating pilot and technical plants of up to 20 tons/day, followed in 1995 by today’s most advanced biodiesel plant, the European Demonstration Plant for Biodiesel Production, producing for 240 to 300 tons/day, with the best technical and economical results known so far.

Regarded as a pioneer of the German biodiesel industry, he not only created a biodiesel plant that over ten years ago was larger than most commercial plants today, he also was instrumental in creating the demand, through marketing, for the biodiesel he was producing. The European Demonstration Plant for Biodiesel Production continues to be the most advanced biodiesel plant in the market, and the oldest production plant currently in operation.

Mr. Connemann participates in many committees CEN for national and European standardization of biodiesel, he is a founding member and vice-president of the European Biodiesel Board. And founded a German Quality Circle for Biodiesel. Currently, he acts as an advisor in the development of the CD Process, and responding to an overwhelming worldwide interest in biodiesel.

Dr. Connemann studied chemistry, chemical engineering and business administration at TU Darmstadt in Germany.