Growers can get advice on market opportunities for bioenergy if they visit the National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC) stand at Cereals.

There, they will receive advice on biomass derived renewable fuels, energy and materials.

The focus of the exhibition will be on the integration of markets and helping farmers to understand how strong demand is for biomass currently and how they can become involved in the supply chain.

This can also be done through improved use of co-products, such as straw, which is a starting point for integration of food, feed, fuel and energy.

At Cereals the NNFCC will also be launching a new web resource for farmers, called PowerPlants 2020, which will be a central hub for farmers wanting to get involved in the bioenergy sector, either through AD, energy crops or biomass combustion.

It will be providing free information and support to farmers and land-based businesses on non-food crops, products and technologies including anaerobic digestion, biomass crops, crops for renewable construction materials, crops for speciality chemicals, or high value crops for specialist pharmaceuticals or herbal preparations.

The NNFCC will also be dealing with enquiries around the Renewables Area and growers should follow the sign “Come to us to find out what opportunities are available to you” for this information.

This year special freebees and FREE information packs on the above topics will be available.

Lucy Hopwood, land and agriculture manager for the NNFCC, will be present at the NNFCC’s stand. She offers practical advice on cropping options and opportunities for adding value on-farm, as well as working on strategic land-use issues and relevant project work to identify further opportunities.

Ms Hopwood has a degree in agriculture and crop management from Harper Adams University College and she is a member of the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants. She also brings several years’ experience in crop production and agriculture. Lucy is also an expert in anaerobic digestion.

Ian Tubby, from the Biomass Energy Centre, will be joining the NNFCC stand. Mr Tubby is an expert adviser on biomass derived heat and energy technologies and supply chains.

*Cereals 2010 exhibitor information as supplied by the National Non-Food Crops Centre.