Willows for biofuel, plastics and sweetener
One of the most interesting items on RadioNZ recently was the Nine-to-Noon interview with Dr Jim Watson, head of the BioJoule project. Their intention is to turn a particular type of coppicing willow, one of the varieties bred for basket making, into biofuel, plastics and sweeteners. The plastic is an expanded polyurethane foam has been produced from natural lignin. A major trial is being undertaken in the Taupo area.
The radio interview is here (19′14″). The project has been developed by a subsidiary of Genesis Research and Development Corporation Limited.
The opportunity to grow shrubby willow on low value land to produce ethanol as a transport fuel and other high value by-products such as lignin and xylose has the potential to solve a number of environmental and economic issues for New Zealand.
I have not ascertained if there is any genetrickery involved, but if not, it sounds like a project that has real potential. Wonder if it could even help deal with some of the nutrient overload that has become such a problem in Lake Taupo if, as I assume, it involves plantings in wetter areas, and thus may reduce the excess nutrients from the pastoral land use in the area.
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