Farmer Focus Arable: Jim Alston gets an education in biofuels

Holt Farmers Club held its student day at the end of June by the kind permission of my neighbour. The event involved spreading the message about modern agriculture on a working farm to more than 500 A-level students.

I ended up talking about biofuels and my research ended up being as much an education for me as them. Certainly I have been sceptical in the past, but, when you look at the demands of recent legislation and government targets, it certainly requires more attention.

Unless the source of the 5% biofuel inclusion in road fuels is monitored and controlled it will do a great deal of harm. If we do get it right, and source it responsibly, it will do a great deal of good.

Anaerobic digestion can make use of waste that might otherwise find its way to an incinerator or landfill and legislation will ensure there is an increasing abundance of that material. Biomass for heat generation ticks a large number of boxes, but needs a civil will to make use of it.

Wherever I looked for information the one message was clear – it cannot work without government assistance and long-term commitment. That subsidy, whether it be capital grants or by enforcing artificially high prices of electricity, is wasted if not backed up by research. Unfortunately, as is so often the case, this is one area that is notable for its absence. All these biotechnologies appear to be based on techniques developed elsewhere, which is an insult to the money pushed in that direction. Properly funded research into the practical aspects of biopower production is the most essential ingredient in this mix. In the words of Norwich City’s beloved Delia Smith: “Where are you? Let’s be having you. Come on.”

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