The document discusses the production of synthetic fibres from polylactic acid (PLA), which can be produced from corn. PLA fibres have properties similar to nylon and polyethylene terephthalate but are derived from renewable resources. PLA can also be used to produce biodegradable packaging materials as an alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. The market potential for PLA fibres and packaging is large at over 10 billion pounds annually, which could be worth $6-10 billion per year.