Soaring oil prices past $50/barrel are helping to boost demand for corn-based plastic resins produced by Cargill Dow. The company substitutes corn in place of oil for producing plastic products such as cups, food packaging and clothing. The demand for its corn-based resins has increased 60% in the past nine months. Companies such as DuPont and BASF also are getting into the act, with recent announcements of plant-based polymer ventures.