Why plant Miscanthus giganteus?
Agriculture faces multiple challenges.
Global agriculture suffers from soil degradation, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, nitrogen runoff, farming profitability issues and carbon emissions.
Innovative solutions for sustainable farming requested!
Miscanthus can ease these concerns.
Miscanthus, a high-yield perennial grass, presents a sustainable solution (CLICC) with its ability to address multiple agricultural challenges at once.
The crop has been cultivated in Europe for over 30 years.
20 Facts about why growing Miscanthus is good for agriculture and the environment overall.
1 – Miscanthus is a reliable biomass resource.
With global demand for biomass far outstripping production, the opportunities for Miscanthus as an energy crop are enormous.
Unlike newly planted forests, which can take decades to produce results, Miscanthus produces commercial yields in as little as two years. Power plants love it.
2 – Miscanthus is virtually weatherproof.
Miscanthus unlocks the potential of unproductive or marginal land and thrives
- on almost all soil types and
- in almost all climate conditions,
especially waterlogged land.
Research & Development
Terravesta’s commitment to continuous research ensures improvements in Miscanthus hybrids, maximising yield, adaptability and overall agronomic performance.
3 – Miscanthus is a perennial asynchronous grass.
Miscanthus is a perennial crop with an annual cycle, which means it can be harvested every year with low inputs.
What’s more, it is harvested in the spring, (when it has fully scenesced) so there are no scheduling conflicts with other crops.
4 – Miscanthus provides long-term income.
Growers sign up to 10, 15 or more years of fixed base prices with annual indexation, protecting them from inflation better than any other asset.
The global market for sustainable agriculture solutions is expanding rapidly, and Miscanthus positions itself as a versatile, in demand commodity.
Help us make the world greener!
Sign our Change.org petition to boost UK government support for perennial biomass crops.
These sustainable crops cut carbon emissions, enrich soil, and provide renewable energy and materials for vital industries.
Your support can drive policy changes for a healthier planet.
5 – Miscanthus reduces herbicide application.
Herbicides reduce organic matter, water holding capacity, soil conservation and fertility.
The leaf mulch produced by Miscanthus after establishment suppresses weed growth and acts as a natural weapon against blackgrass.
Miscanthus requires no herbicide after establishment and for the next 20 years thereafter.
6 – Miscanthus giganteus is not invasive.
Miscanthus × giganteus is a sterile hybrid of Miscanthus sinensis and Miscanthus sacchariflorus.
Miscanthus stays where it is planted. A 30-year history of planting shows that there is no risk of invasion.
Once the crop has done its job, it can be easily removed. Several methods are available.
Comprehensive Growers guide
Everything you need to know about growing Miscanthus can be found in our Essential Grower’s Guide at www.terravesta.com. Join the Green Revolution.
7 – Miscanthus has solid government backing.
Governments are actively supporting the cultivation of Miscanthus through schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) in the UK or similar schemes across the European Union.
As a result, demand for biomass is set to increase dramatically, providing an opportunity for Miscanthus growers to reap the rewards now and in the future. The UK biomass strategy (2023) forsees a marked increase for the biomass supply from Miscanthus, short rotation coppice (SRC), and short-rotation forestry (SRF).
8 – Miscanthus is carbon negative.
Miscanthus absorbs more carbon each year than it releases when harvested, baled and transported.
Miscanthus acts as a powerful carbon sink, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to the fight against climate change. Read more in the Carbon Life Cycle Report. Miscanthus is by all means a remarkable circular, low-input, carbon crop (CLICC).
9 – Miscanthus supports biodiversity.
Minimal use of chemicals, no fertiliser and no cultivation for 20 years increases biodiversity.
Miscanthus is also an excellent habitat, producing leaf litter teeming with invertebrate life.
10 – Miscanthus is a minimal maintenance crop.
Once established, Miscanthus is a hands-off crop that requires remarkably little input lowering labor and management costs.
It doesn’t need fertiliser, chemicals or annual tillage once established, therefore farmers can focus their attention elsewhere on the farm.
11 – Miscanthus, returns from unproductive land
All farms have less productive arable land. Miscanthus can be grown on land not well suited for other crops – turning marginal land into profitable land.
Marginal land are areas with poor drainage, high water tables, nonproductive soils, as well as zones within fields where crop yields are regularly low
Plantings in these locations is an environmentally beneficial land use change.
Now, reduced planting costs
Terravesta’s new on-farm planting techniques, establishment protocol and nusery processes have significantly reduced establishment costs.
Contact us today to discuss your options.
12 – Miscanthus does not compete with food.
There are millions of hectares of marginal land unsuitable for food crops in Europe alone that could be used to grow a perennial energy crop.
In fact, at the end of its life, Miscanthus will have improved the soil on which it was grown, potentially increasing the availability of land for food crops.
13 – Miscanthus offers overall excellent returns.
Miscanthus offers compelling yields, with the potential to produce 12-16 tonnes per hectare in the UK’s wet and cool oceanic climate and up to 20 tonnes in more southern European climates.
Net returns to the farmer of over £900 (€1,000) per hectare are the average, excluding farm subsidies.
14 – Miscanthus requires really no input costs.
Miscanthus, a high yield grass, does not generate any annual input costs after establishment.
After the third year, it becomes a reliable and low-maintenance option, requiring no additional inputs, making it an eco- friendly and cost-effective choice for sustainable agriculture (read more about CLICCs).
15 – Miscanthus improves farm productivity.
Once established, Miscanthus helps farm management shift attention away from finding solutions for challenging or unproductive land.
The grass is low-maintenance, allowing the farmer to concentrate on increasing income from more productive areas of the farm increasing the overall farm productivity.
16 – Miscanthus performs bioremediation.
Miscanthus Giganteus is proven to be one of the best crops for phytoremediation, helping to clean up contaminated soil by absorbing and accumulating pollutants in its rhizome and above ground biomass.
Tested successfully Miscanthus stabilises soil near closed coal, lead, zinc and cadmium mines
17 – Miscanthus is water efficient.
Miscanthus is one of the best options for low input bioenergy production in Europe.
Miscanthus requires significantly less water compared to traditional crops, making it an ideal choice for regions facing water scarcity and drought conditions.
Its deep but not destructive root system stores water and reduces flooding.
18 – Miscanthus improves soil health.
Miscanthus’ vast root system prevents soil erosion, enhances soil structure, and reduces the need for chemical fertilisers, promoting long-term sustainability.
It also improves the organic matter and nutrient status of the soil due to the annual high foliage loss during the scenescence process late in the season. Read also here about Miscanthus’ system services.
19 – Miscanthus offers security against volatility.
With low overheads, stable and indexed prices, guaranteed yields and reliable net margins for 20 years or more, regardless of oil prices, inflation, extreme weather and geopolitical events, Miscanthus offers growers the financial security that no other crop can.
20 – Miscanthus is a fossil fuels substitute.
In addition to releasing planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, burning fossil fuels produces air pollutants which increase heart disease and respiratory illnesses.
Miscanthus can be a cornerstone in the bioenergy sector, providing renewable and efficient biomass for biofuel production, reducing human dependence on fossil fuels.
Continue reading about Miscanthus…
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