Terravesta Research & Development
Terravesta has a rich history of research in its short life.
From the very beginning it was clear that more knowledge was needed about Miscanthus, especially as there was no previous commercial experience.
R&D is fundamental to building a strong case when:
- dealing with new crops with little agricultural history,
- cultivating a crop in a foreign environment on a commercial-scale,
- requiring new practices that go against established farming traditions and
- entering markets traditionally supplied by fossil-derived materials.
Research Partnerships
In its quest to bring Miscanthus to market Terravesta has partnered with a number of research institutions. A unique collection of more than 1,500 germplasm from East Asia has been assembled and viable, high yielding hybrids suitable for different climates have been bred from these. The aim is to fully understand the agronomic, genetic and potential net zero carbon contribution of Miscanthus.
IBERS
Aberystwyth University’s (AU) Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences is leading a major research programme into Miscanthus.
In collaboration with Terravesta, AU has led breeding programmes for novel seed-based and clonal Miscanthus hybrids with exceptional traits such as superior biomass yields, drought resistance, cold tolerance and reduced establishment time.
It was all science at the beginning
Benefits for agriculture
Miscanthus produces around 30 times more energy than it takes to grow. Terravesta hybrids, the result of decades of research, have doubled the amount of energy produced per hectare compared to standard Miscanthus. This is an opportunity for agriculture. It also means that more can be produced from less land, contributing to net-zero carbon targets.
Committed to Miscanthus
Climate change, with a strong commitment to reducing CO2 emissions from agriculture and the use of fertilisers and herbicides, is a focus for Terravesta.
Research efforts have led to the development of more efficient agronomics and auxiliary technologies that have helped to reduce production costs and make Miscanthus attractive to industry and farmers alike.
Current R&D projects
Optimising Miscanthus Establishment for Net Zero
Improve mechanisation and data collection to optimise Miscanthus establishment.
Centre for High Carbon Capture Cropping
Develop a standardised approach to quantifying carbon sequestration in soils.
Past R&D projects
Miscanthus for marginal, contaminated and industrially damaged land
Deliver robust agronomies for crop establishment on challenging marginal and contaminated land.
Growing Advanced industrial Crops on marginal lands for Biorefineries
Produce sustainable products with a strong market potential.
Miscanthus
upscaling technology
Develop the technology required to plant the energy crop Miscanthus from seed.
Genetic improvement of Miscanthus to be a sustainable feedstock for bioenergy in the UK
Build the largest Miscanthus collection outside Asia, respecting international protocols.
Creating new crop options for a variety of industries.
Miscanthus was identified in the 1960s
A biomass crop is essentially a biological solar panel. It uses the water and nutrients in the soil to convert light into fixed carbon. Miscanthus is one of those crops that ticks all the right boxes to meet the needs of industry and contribute to the growth of a sustainable, low carbon economy.
List of academic partners
United Kingdom
International
- INRAE, France
- Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas, Poland
- Justus-Liebig Universität Gießen, Germany
- Konya Gida ve Tarim University, Turkey
- Research and Innovation Centre Pro-Akademia, Poland
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy
- University of Catania, Italy
- University of Hohenheim, Germany
- University of Wageningen, Netherlands
- University of Zagreb, Croatia
- Dongying Agricultural Institute, China
Continue reading about Miscanthus…
Tell us about your research project.
Interested in developing innovations that lead to widespread adoption and the ability to mitigate climate change at scale?
