Labour Party urges campaign to promote growth of miscanthus

A CAMPAIGN to promote the growth of miscanthus should now be initiated by Energy Minister Eamon Ryan, it was suggested yesterday.

The call by Labour Party spokesman on agriculture and food Seán Sherlock followed the minister’s decision on a REFIT price for the crop.

Mr Sherlock said this was very good news for the bio-fuel industry and for farmers involved in growing miscanthus.

“It has been the single biggest issue affecting the industry and after months of waiting for an announcement growers can finally move forward with harvesting knowing they will secure a good price,” he said.

Mr Sherlock said the minister must now go a step further and initiate a campaign to promote the growth of miscanthus.

“There are many farmers who still remain to be convinced on its merits as a crop. Yet, it boasts a greater profit margin.

“It is also a self-generating crop which is viable for 20 years or more, offering a very high return for a very low labour input,” he said.

Mr Sherlock said there is increasing demand for alternative renewable energy sources given that renewable energy targets have to be met.

“There is huge potential for job creation in this sector as miscanthus, when baled into briquette form, can be used for domestic heating and could complement the use of coal and traditional peat briquettes,” he said.

JHM Crops, the miscanthus company based in Adare, Co Limerick, also welcomed the REFIT Scheme announced by Mr Ryan. Joe Hogan, managing director, said this was the stimulus needed. It secures the future of the miscanthus industry and guarantees a viable market for energy crops for the next 15 years.

“This, coupled with the commitment by the Department of Agriculture to maintain the establishment grant for growers, ensures that there will be a very viable return for farmers growing miscanthus,” he said.

Mr Hogan said the REFIT tariff is paid to energy generators like the ESB and Bord na Móna to promote the use of renewable energy sources in electricity generation. This allows these companies to pay a viable price for feedstock.

“This will definitely lead to an upsurge in planting of miscanthus now that the situation has been clarified.

“Any doubts about markets have been dispelled, and our challenge now is to get enough miscanthus into the ground to meet this huge demand for our product” he said.

Ronan Madigan, JHM Crops press officer, said: “What we have secured is a viable price which is index-linked and guaranteed for the next 15 years.”