One of the world's largest automakers is teaming up with the best known name in Tequila to change the way your car is made.  But it won't involve putting a worm in your gas tank.

The plan is to use a byproduct of the agave plant used in the Mexican liquor, and process it into a bioplastic that is a cheaper, lighter-weight alternative to traditional plastics.  The material will be developed to be used for storage bins in cars, wiring harnesses and other parts.

"It's as versatile as some of the other components we’ve used," said Debbie Mielewski, Ford's senior technical leader for sustainability research.  "It really does contribute to less greenhouse gases."

It takes seven years to grow an agave plant, and the fibers that piqued Ford's interest were usually discarded in the process of making tequila and agave sweetener.  A few would go to local Mexicans artisans to make paper and crafts.  Ford's apettite will give the agave farmers an entirely new revenue stream.

Dr. Mielewski team wants to convert agave fibers into a tough, durable material that is aesthetically pleasing when used in car interiors.  The fibers themselves will be seen in the finished bioplastic, making a visual statement of its new, greener ambitions.  The parts weigh about 15 percent less than the talc or glass fibers it can replace, she said.