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FAIR-CT96-1946
Brassica carinata: The outset of a new crop for biomass and industrial non-food oil - CARINATA
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Further Information
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Bulk Chemicals
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Crops for Bulk Chemicals
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Crops for Liquid Biofuels and Biogas
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FAIR Area 1.1 - Biomass and Bioenergy Chain
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Liquid Biofuels and Biogas
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Plant Genetics
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Straw
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Vegetable Oil/Fat
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Type of Project |
Shared Cost |
| Contract No |
FAIR-CT96-1946 |
| Total Cost |
2,318,424 ECU |
| EC Contribution |
1,158,000 ECU |
| Start Date |
01/03/1997 |
| Duration |
36 Months |
Brassica carinata: the outset of a new crop for biomass and
industrial non-food oil production
Objectives
The main objective is to develop the production of Brassica carinata as a new source of
non-food raw material whether for biomass to be processed into energy or seed oils that could be
transformed into liquid biofuels or high value added derivatives.
Technical Approach
The project includes different objectives that can be grouped within three main areas:
- The evaluation of B. carinata as a source of non-food raw material either for biomass or
for the production of seed oil used to produce biodiesel or special erucic acid derivatives.
- The adaptation and productivity of improved genotypes under different agronomic conditions, and
crop management conditions will be evaluated in order to calculate the economical feasibility of the
species production.
- The reduction of glucosinolates in the seed oil free meals is the main breeding objective, in order to
evaluate the seed cake after oil extraction. Different breeding techniques will be combined including
traditional breeding mutagenesis and in vitro haplo-diploidisation.
Expected Results
Direct Results: (% of completed work)
- Post harvest management studies and characterisation of B. carinata biomass as a
source for energy in thermal processes (10%).
- Biomass storage conditions and evaluation of the changes that occur in biomass composition due
to storage (0%).
- Evaluation of biodiesel characteristics from low erucic acid B. carinata (LEBC) oil
according to European specifications (10%).
- Evaluation of high erucic B. carinata (HEBC) oil for plastic lubricant production and other
uses (10%).
- B. carinata genotype evaluation and identification of suitable crop production regions in
different E.U. countries (25%).
- Evaluation of sowing techniques, planting dates and nitrogen fertilisation for optimum B.
carinata production (25%).
- The evaluation of the role of B. carinata in crop rotation (0%).
- In vitro regeneration and haplo-diploidisation of B. carinata (100%).
- Selection of B. carinata genotypes for grain yields with low glucosinolate content through
conventional breeding (25%), mutagenesis (15%), and in vitro haplo-diploidisation (15%).
- The development of B. carinata cytoplasm male sterile lines and fertility restorer lines to
produce hybrid cultivars (30%).
Indirect Results
- The introduction of a winter cereal alternative could be of great value for the dry southern
European agriculture, which is dominated by cereal monocultures.
- The creation of a new market to prevent the probable future shortage in the E.U. of feed stocks for
biodiesel or other special oil derivatives.
- The development of a suitable edible oil and protein source for the north Africa countries and other
countries with dry and warm climates.
Application
The most immediate applications are those derived from the seed oil, i.e. Biodiesel from the LEBC
oil and special derivatives used in the plastic industry from HEBC oil. Also, bioenergy plants based on
biomass could be supplied from this type of biomass production in the future. The production of edible
oil and protein meal could start in non-EU countries but they could also be produced by EU countries in
the future if there is a significant change in the present Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Brassica carinata
Potential industrial uses of Brassica carinata
Contacts
Coordinator
Participant
