IFA establishes project to study alternative land use

OIL seed rape crops grown by farmers could power up to 500,000 vehicles, the Irish Farmers Association suggested yesterday when it launched a project team on alternative land use.

The team, set up by president Padraig Walshe, will research various potential energy crops and related issues and initially report back to the IFA executive council by the end of the year.

“With the closure of the sugar beet industry, an increasing amount of Irish land resources will become available for alternative uses, including bio-energy.