National Activities - UK UK Review of MAFF Supported Biomass R and D Activities - Part 1

Contacts




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Biological Conversion : Crops for Liquid Biofuels and Biogas : Crops for Solid Biofuels : Integrated Crop Protection & Biological Control : Liquid Biofuels and Biogas : National Activities - UK : Solid Biofuels : Thermochemical Conversion : Wood (Lignocellulose)

Meetings and Projects

The feedback and conclusions of this meeting are presented in Part 2

Introduction
In summer 1998, the UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) the Ministry held a review of their biomass crops research programme. The resulting report outlines the Ministry's current research programme on biomass crops, provides a summary of the discussions which took place during the afternoon workshops and indicates the priority areas for future research. It should be noted that these 'priorities' are subject to further discussions within Government and will be adjusted in line with any developments in policy on energy crops.

Activities in this area are managed by AEFTD (the Agriculture, Environment & Food Technology Division of the Chief Scientist' s Group), with members of this division providing scientific advice on biomass crops and managing the Ministry's research programme in this area. The NCS division (Non-Food Crops & Sugar Division, previously STOP Division) has responsibility for policy on biomass crops within the Ministry.

Background and details of the meeting
The purpose of the review was to assess the progress, scientific quality and value for money of the current ACU-funded research on biomass and to identify the future direction of the work programme. The external assessors who kindly agreed to undertake the review of the research were: Dr Keith Brent (Consultant), Dr Hugh Evans (Forest Research) and Mr John Seed (Border Biofuels). The review of the research programme was followed by a series of presentations of the projects. During the afternoon the six workshops covered different aspects of biomass production and use, followed by a feedback session, at which the key outcomes of each workshop were reported.

Policy and scientific objectives
The policy objectives for the Biomass Programme were to provide the basic knowledge to aid the development of a competitive sector of the farming industry which can produce crops for energy and industrial use, without additional subsidy, whilst protecting the environment and reducing chemical and energy inputs. The scientific objectives relevant to the Biomass Programme were to identify those crops and their varieties which are most suitable for the economic production of biomass in the UK as well as to determine the most economical systems for growing, harvesting, storing and processing biomass consistent with protection of the environment, whilst using no more chemicals or energy, than existing crops. A further objective was to evaluate potential environmental benefits to be gained by replacing fossil fuels with biofuels.

Projects under review
The following projects were presented at the meeting and reviewed by the external assessors:

• Site-yield trials of SRC
• Integrated Rust Management in short-rotation willow coppice
• Industrial and fuel crops-Miscanthus
• Collection of natural source Miscanthus germplasm from Japan and Korea.
• Integrated crop protection in short rotation coppice willow production
• Maximising the efficiency of SRC production

These are briefly summarised below:

NF0401: Site/Yield Trials of poplar and willow coppice
Detailed understanding is currently lacking regarding the yields that can be achieved for willow and poplar SRC and the (site) factors which will influence yield. The objective of the project is to develop predictive models which will relate expected yields from SRC to site factors, climate and varietal characteristics. These models (to be developed in a later phase) will be used by policy makers, planners, developers and the biomass industry. Forty six trial sites have been established across Great Britain, with 3 sites in Northern Ireland. The sites are planted with willow and poplar coppice varieties and are representative of the range of soil types and climatic conditions found in the UK. Yield data are recorded annually for each site, either by destructive or non-destructive sampling, as appropriate. The sites are also monitored for insect damage and fungal pathogen attack. Meteorological readings and periodic soil samples are taken at each site. [The MAFF funding to-date has concentrated on the insect and pest monitoring work.]

NF0402: Integrated rust management in short-rotation willow coppice
Rusts can cause serious economic damage to willow coppice and, at times, wipe out the crop entirely. The aim of this project was to develop integrated rust management for UK willow coppice plantations, which incorporates factors for the control of rusts and avoids fungicide dependence. The work sought to increase the understanding of the genetics of the rust pathogen and to clarify how the pathogen interacts with resistant and susceptible willow varieties. It also studied the effects of planting mixtures of willow varieties instead of monocultures as a means of delaying the onset and reducing the impact of rust attacks. In addition, the ecological relationships between rusts and a naturally occurring hyperparasite (Sphaerellopsis filum) were investigated as a potential means of biological control.

NF0406: Integrated crop protection in short rotation coppice willow production
This project follows on from NF0402 and seeks to develop the scientific foundation for an integrated, non-chemical strategy for not only disease, but also pest, management. The work will investigate rust variation, the ecology of the willow-attacking chrysomelid beetles, the effects of mixed clone plantations, biological control approaches, and the development of practical disease and pest management guidelines.

NF0403: Miscanthus: industrial and fuel crop
Miscanthus has the potential to be a high yielding energy crop, however little is known about its productivity both in the UK and overseas. The long term aim of this work is to determine the yield potential of Miscanthus sacchariflorus and identify potential markets based on its current economics. Miscanthus has been grown on 7 sites across the UK, under 2 plant spacings and at high and lower soil fertilities. Annual yield assessments are made at each plot. Additional work involves physiological studies of the crop and entomological assessments. A survey of potential markets and market prices for Miscanthus and an assessment of the current economics of the crop are also being developed.

NF0404: Collection of natural source Miscanthus germplasm from Japan and Korea
The current germplasm resources available for the development of Miscanthus represent a very narrow genetic base. In order to expand the genetic base, two collection trips were undertaken to Japan and Korea to collect seeds from wild source Miscanthus plants in as wide a range of localities as possible. The 169 accessions collected during the trips are currently being propagated at ADAS and Kew Gardens.

AS0105: Maximising the physiological efficiency of arable energy coppice
This project aims to determine the relationship between coppice willow planting density and yield when intensively managed and grown with optimum inputs (fertiliser, water, etc). Planting densities of 10 - 111,000 plants/ha are being investigated. The information will be used to define the most appropriate crop density and harvest cycle for SRC grown on fertile agricultural soils.

External assessment of research
External assessors provided written assessments of those projects which were being reviewed. These comments will be used by MAFF to re-focus the current research projects, where appropriate, and to help identify whether work should be continued under a new contract when an existing project ends.

Contacts

Contact

• Rebecca COWBURN / DEFRA Agriculture, Environment and Food Technology Division (Unit A) / UNITED KINGDOM