Arable


Biofuel could help UK reach Net Zero


Grasses like miscanthus are a sus- tainable energy source that could be a driving force towards net zero car- bon emissions, say scientists. The miscanthus genus of grasses


Terravesta wants more farmers to grow miscanthus


Finance agreement set to boost miscanthus crops


new finance package aims to encourage more farmers to grow the green energy crop miscanthus – by covering virtually all es- tablishment costs.


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Oxbury Bank has teamed up with miscanthus specialist Ter- ravesta to deliver the finance package. As well as helping with upfront costs, it includes a long-term agreement provid- ing growers with index-linked annual returns. “One of the main barriers to entry for Miscanthus growing is the upfront cost of planting,” says Oxbury Bank managing director Nick Evans. “Our fi- nance package with Terraves- ta ensures a quick release of funds to help farmers to grow a sustainable business.” The loan structure allows


farmers to pay interest-only for up to two years while the crop is establishing. They pay back the capital over an extended peri- od when the crop is producing an economic return.


Carbon negative’


Miscanthus is seen as a car- bon negative crop. “Agriculture is changing, and it is important that farmers have access to fi- nance and capital for their low carbon initiatives and sustaina- ble growth plans,” says Mr Evans. Under the new contract,


Terravesta will supply farm- ers with its miscanthus plants, planting equipment and agron- omy throughout the crop’s life. It will also commit to a minimum number of plants emerging un- der its new planting promise. Terravesta chief operating


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officer Alex Robinson says the company’s rhizome-based vari- ety AthenaTM delivers higher yields and an 8% higher calorif- ic value, producing 180% more energy per hectare.


The crop is generally har- vested in its second year. It reaches maturity faster than the commercially available mis- canthus giganteus. Some growers have report- ed a first harvest of 8t/ha, with mature yields of 10-17t/ha de- pending on soil type.


“The beauty of this new


package is that growers have a direct contract with renewa- ble energy power plants, which enables Terravesta to provide a finance package and allows us to focus on crop establish- ment in the UK at a much great- er scale.”


could quickly become the first choice for biofuel production, suggests a study by researchers at the Earl- ham Institute in Norwich. The grasses can be grown in low- er agricultural grade conditions, in- cluding marginal land, due to their resilience and photosynthetic capac- ity at low temperatures.


Miscanthus is a promising biofu- el thanks to its high biomass yield and low input requirements. It can adapt to a range of climate zones and land types.


It is seen as a viable commercial option for farmers although yields can come under threat from insuf- ficient or excessive water supplies such as winter floods or summer heat waves. The Earlham Institute analysed various miscanthus genotypes to identify traits that provide insight into gene adaptation and regulation during water stress. Study author Jose De Vega said: “Miscanthus is a commercial crop due to its high biomass productivi- ty, resilience, and ability to contin- ue photosynthesis during the win- ter months.


“These qualities make it a par- ticularly good candidate for growth on marginal land in the UK, where yields might otherwise be limited by scorching summers and wet win- ters.”


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