UPM Biofore Magazine 1-2019

TEXT Saara Töyssy   PHOTOGRAPHY Andrés Bartet; Courtesy of the interviewees

T he “bio” prefix in biofuels might suggest a straightforward option for mitigating climate change. But cultivating plants as feedstock for biofuels is not entirely unproblematic. For starters, not all methods of crop cultivation are sustainable and climate-friendly. And, moreover, if fields are allocated for cultivating biofuel feedstock, will there be enough land left over for farming food crops to feed the ever-growing global population? These are among many complex issues coming under increased scrutiny as the menace of climate change looms larger. Brassica carinata , however, is a plant that seems perfect for the biofuels industry. The carinata grain is unfit for human consumption, yet it contains oil that is highly suitable as rawmaterial for biofuel. The non-genetically modified meal meanwhile provides high-quality protein for cattle feed. The promising plant is already yielding multiple benefits as a winter crop cultivated by UPM’s contract farmers in Uruguay. Reliable winter crop It is May in Uruguay and the main crop in the local fields – soybean, in this case – has been harvested and rotated with a newly-sown winter crop of carinata a few weeks ago. As carinata grows in winter outside the normal planting season, it can be sown in the same fields as summer food crops. The idle fields are ready and waiting, requiring no additional preparation. In Uruguay, soybean fields are typically rotated with cover crops to protect the soil from erosion. Fields must be cultivated all year round under local legislation. However, only 30% of land is currently in productive use during winter with winter- growing species of wheat, barley and canola, the rest being cover crops. “Winter farming is an obligation in Uruguay that means extra work and costs for farmers. Carinata is an alternative crop that brings in additional income. Not only does winter farming prevent erosion, it is also one of the best ways to increase the soil’s carbon-binding capacity. Since only the grains are harvested, the rest of the Though no larger than mustard seeds, the fruit of the Brassica carinata plant carries huge promise for carbon-neutral traffic. CARINATA – SEEDS OF CLIMATE- POSITIVE CHANGE

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