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Foreword
In this month’s News Review we take a closer look at developments
within the wood and crop sector. A consortium of over 20 industry and research
partners have formed a four-year, £5.9 million project to help farmers monetise carbon capture ‘through a carbon marketplace’. The project, entitled the Centre
for High Carbon Capture Cropping (CHCx3) is led by crop science organisation
National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB). The project will primarily
evaluate crop’s potential to enhance atmospheric carbon capture and
sequestration, in the soil and crop-based products, and attempt to examine the
effects of cultivation systems and agronomy on economic returns. The consortium
will examine four cropping options, including rotational cover crops and annual
fibre crops, such as industrial hemp and flax. Furthermore, the project will
investigate perennial, food, forage, and feed crops - including cereals and
herbal leys – as well as perennial biomass crops, such as miscanthus, willow
and poplar. The results will be important in informing the development of enhanced
value chains for industries such as textiles and construction.
Scientists at the Rothamsted Research centre are
baffled by the fact that the vast datasets from ‘Britain’s most measured farm’,
North Wyke Farm Platform in Devon, remain underutilised. The accumulated streams
of data from every aspect of the farm and environment are being continuously updated
and expanded, building up a detailed picture of the landscape, the natural
systems and the impacts that farm activity is having on both. The data has
generated over 200 academic papers and attracted investment and collaboration
with multiple partners. But more could be used according to Phil Le Grice, Farm
Platform scientific specialist, who mentions: “It is a resource of such scale
that it requires a leap of imagination.” He carries on pointing out that 12
years ago people were not able to envisage the power of big data, however with
the emergence of AI and machine learning this is now plausible.
Other News this Month Includes:
Policy
- Biomass,
plastic waste and carbon dioxide feedstocks key to cutting chemical industry’s
emissions
- EU states to allow new
biofuels feedstocks by Sept 2025
- More...
Markets
- Global vegetable
oil production expected to hit record levels in 2024/25
- OMV and Borealis
sign long-term supply agreements with TOMRA for recycling feedstock produced
from mixed waste
- More...
Research & Development
- UK
researchers lead a national team, transforming solid waste into aviation fuel
- Bio-based
resins could offer recyclable future for 3D printing
- More...
Wood & Crop
- Project
worth £5.9m to help UK farmers increase carbon capture
- IFC and the Italian climate fund partner with
Eni to support biofuel production
- More...
Biorefinery
- Trillium
Renewable Chemicals selects INEOS Green Lake for world’s first demonstration plant
for sustainable acrylonitrile production
- Urban
biorefineries in the EU: from blueprint to implementation
- India: NRL’s biorefinery to start producing ethanol by July-August: MD
Other feedstocks
- Bio Capital
acquires Linwood transfer station to process feedstock for Scotland anaerobic
digestion sites.
Events
Feedstock Prices