Details

Title:

Novel Non-food Crops for Modern Biorefineries

Author(s):

Christou, M., Alexopoulou, E., Stolarski, M., Krzyżaniak, M.

Document(s):

Abstract:

In this particular work focus is given on the non­food oil crops castor seed, crambe, cuphea, lunaria and safflower. These crops do not compete with food crops in terms of agricultural lands as they can grow on less fertile lands, with low inputs (water, nitrogen, pesticides etc.). Their selection was also based on their favourable oil properties for the various green chemical products dealt in this project. The cultivation of these oil crops at European level is not at a commercial scale at present and for most of the crops yields are reported from USA mainly. For certain crops like castor seed and safflower there is already an established market in Europe with imported oils. From preliminary research going on in the Mediterranean area it is likely that these crops could be candidate for larger­scale development in Europe. Adaptability and productivity of crops were tested in field trials established in Greece and Poland, representing the Continental and Mediterranean environmental zones. The crops were grown for three years (2010/2011, 2011/2012 and 2012/2013) in field trials along with rapeseed and sunflower for comparison reasons. Castor seed, safflower and crambe have shown a very good establishment and produced relatively high yields in Greece, with castor seed and safflower having the leadership, whereas in the cold climate of Central Europe in Poland only crambe seem to be appropriate crop.

Keywords:

fiber crops, fiber markets, carbohydrate crops, resins, oil crops and markets, other specialty crops and markets

Topic:

Biomass resources

Subtopic:

Energy crops and energy grasses

Event:

21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

1CO.12.3

Pages:

155 - 159

ISBN:

978-88-89407-53-0

Paper DOI:

10.5071/21stEUBCE2013-1CO.12.3

Price:

FREE