The role of energy cropping

IFA’s new project team to promote alternative land uses will provide valuable help to tillage farmers, particularly to those trying to find a land use to match the profitability of sugar beet.

The team is hopeful that energy crops could go some way to meeting that objective, but is realistic in its assessment that it can only happen if the Government provides an incentive, through substantial excise rebates.

For alternative fuels from energy crops to survive in the market without subsidy, the world would have to be hit by a very severe oil shortage.