Biomass hopes rise

8 September 2000

A REPORT commissioned by the National Assembly claims short-term coppicing for biomass production has real income-generating potential on Welsh farms.

Peter Cook, head of the SACs Rural Business Unit, based his report on four months study by top Welsh experts on alternative sectors, including biomass, fibre crop production, organic horticulture, farm woodlands and aquaculture.

The conclusion was that all sectors can produce economic benefits, but Wales is particularly well suited to biomass production, said Mr Cook.

Fibre crop growing has potential, but must be linked to investment in processing and product use.