IENICA REPORT: IRELAND

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDUSTRIAL CROP PRODUCTION IN IRELAND

Interest in non-food crop production has been stimulated by restrictions on the output of most food crop and animal enterprises, and a consequential reduction in on-farm employment. The production of fuel crops would also contribute to the abatement of greenhouse gas emissions, which will be a major concern in Ireland over the next ten years.

Unlike most other EU countries, Irish agriculture is dominated by grass-animal enterprises, with less than 10% of agricultural land devoted to arable crops. The set-aside area is therefore relatively small and mainly in grassland.

The non-food crop options chosen for review as having most relevance in Ireland include the following:

1. Oil crops for fuel production.

2. Production of sugar, starch or ligno-cellulosic crops for ethanol production.

Crop production for heat and/or electricity.

Crop production for processed board use.

In all the biomass-energy systems reviewed, raw material procurement is the predominant cost component. To produce energy at a cost approaching that of conventional mineral fuels, stable supplies of low-cost raw materials are essential. These are most likely to be residues or wastes for which competing uses are either low-value or non-existent. In the immediate future the most likely material in this category is waste vegetable oil. An industry based on these materials could be established, but would require de-excising to make it viable.

While the technologies for energy production from crops are improving rapidly, the costs remain uncompetitive with mineral fuels. In the absence of subsidy to reflect their environmental benefits and employment potential, little development in energy crop production can be expected.

Grass is of particular interest in Ireland. Ethanol production from grass by conventional technology is not viable, but two other options should be kept under review: conversion of hemicellulose sugars to ethanol, or extraction of xylose for industrial use.

Of the non-energy industrial crop uses, the most promising appears to be hemp for fibre or insulating board production. Its high yield, low dry matter and ease of establishment would be useful advantages. Demand will be dependant on the rate of expansion of the fibre board industry in relation to the availability of forest thinnings and saw-milling wastes.