Farmers Willing to Grow Biofuel Crops

Biofuels offer the best prospects for farmers to diversify out of traditional enterprises in the future, according to a Teagasc researcher.

Mr. Bernard Rice of the Teagasc Research Centre at Oak Park, Carlow told the IFA Biofuels Conference in Kildare, today, that farmers are willing and able to produce biofuel crops provided it makes economic sense.

“Excise relief for transport biofuels is an essential part of economic viability. The proposed excise relief for 8 million litres of transport biofuels, while very welcome, will only achieve about one-tenth of the European Commission's initial two percent substitution target.  An expanded scheme is needed to allow the industry to develop quickly to its full potential” he said.

Mr. Rice told the conference that the best immediate biofuel prospects are rape-seed oil for use in modified engines, biodiesel from a mix of feedstocks including waste vegetable oil and tallow, and wood residues either as chips or pellets.

"Short rotation willows also have potential with the sites being used for the disposal of effluents from the food industry or municipal treatment plants" he said.

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Issued by Jane Kavanagh

Publications Manager, Teagasc

Tel: 059 918 3457; 087 222 3672

Email: jkavanagh@hq.teagasc.ie