UPM Biofore Magazine 1-2019

BRASSICA CARINATA

• Brassica carinata is bred by the Canadian company Agrisoma Biosciences. It is believed to be a hybrid of the Ethiopian Brassica nigra and Brassica oleracea. The plant’s high erucic acid content makes the oil inedible. • The fields are sown in Uruguay in May two metres. While it copes with frost and dry conditions, it can also tolerate unpredictable moisture levels, as it is able to utilise extra water. Farmers also appreciate carinata’s resistance to pests. • Half of each carinata grain can be and harvested in November and December. Carinata grows to a height slightly under processed into biofuel, including aircraft fuel. The remaining protein-rich by-product is non-GMO cattle feed.

plant stays in the field. The biomass improves soil quality, thus also improving its future yields and carbon- binding properties. In this scenario, everybody wins,” explains Liisa Ranta , Manager, Sustainability at UPMBiofuels. Best of all for farmers, carinata is reliable. It provides an acceptable yield even in varying weather conditions, and its price follows international markets. This steady flow of extra income helps farmers plan, invest and develop their long-term operations. “Crop rotation is essential for maintaining good soil condition. Farmers can’t keep planting the same winter crop, such as wheat, from season to season. Carinata, too,

should only be planted every second or third year,” notes Ranta.

Efficient carbon sinks By August, the carinata crop is

thriving. As the crop matures, it binds a growing amount of carbon. Since only the grains are harvested, the carbon, around half the plant mass, remains in the field. Part of the remaining carbon is released into the atmosphere as part of the carbon cycle. The exceptionally long root system is highly efficient at storing carbon in soil. Using the right cultivation methods and the right plants not only improves the land’s capacity to absorb carbon, but it can even make

LIISA RANTA

28 | UPM BIOFORE BEYOND FOSSILS