A new £4.8M project funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to increase biomass crops grown in the UK, is set to launch at the Low Carbon Agriculture Show in February.
Biomass Connect is a new initiative that will showcase best-practice and innovations in biomass feedstock production at sites across the UK and through a biomass Information hub.
Sustainable biomass
Dr Jeanette Whitaker, Biomass Connect lead and principal scientist in soils and land use at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), says the project is about supporting land managers to plant more sustainable biomass crops. “Our project will act as a focal point for the biomass industry, supporting the expansion of sustainable biomass production in the UK.
“The Climate Change Committee indicates that expansion of biomass feedstock cultivation from 10,000ha to 730,000ha by 2050 is required to deliver net zero for the UK. This will require significant changes in agricultural land use over the coming decades,” says Jeanette.
“Launching our initiative at the Low Carbon Agriculture show therefore seemed the obvious choice to raise the profile of our project and discuss the challenges for the biomass sector at an event attended by individuals and organisations focused on decarbonising agriculture.”
More information
The Biomass Connect launch will take place between 16:30 – 17:30 on Tuesday 7 February at the show and will include an outline of the project, information on why more sustainable biomass is crucial to reaching net zero, and how it can benefit farmers.
Biomass Connect is also represented in the show’s exhibition, with a stand for farmers to visit and understand which biomass crops could be suitable for them. There will also be a dedicated biomass area in the exhibition so farmers can speak directly with industry suppliers.
