1. Defra Bioenergy Crops R&D Programme Bruno Viegas Sustainable Farming and Food Science Division

2. Defra Bioenergy Crops R&D Programme Why support bioenergy (1)? UK targets for generation of 10 and 15.4% of UK electricity from renewable sources by 2010 and 2015. A range of renewable energy technologies will have to be exploited. In promising areas that are further from market exploitation, the Government has decided to provide support.

3. Defra Bioenergy Crops R&D Programme Why support bioenergy (2)? Potential to generate in excess of 10 times more energy than that used to generate them. An economically viable bioenergy sector must be established to realise this potential – R&D can play an important role.

4. Defra Bioenergy Crops R&D Programme The R&D programme was established in 1994 and aims to provide: 1) Knowledge and tools for the development of a new competitive sector 2) Guidance for minimising adverse impacts The programme spent over £900,000 in 2004/05.

5. Defra Bioenergy Crops R&D Programme Note: Defra has the remit of research in primary production (Dti provides support for development of technologies to use bioenergy crops) This includes analysis of the social, economic and environmental impacts of bioenergy crops. The main constraints in primary production to development of a viable supply chain are yield and yield stability.

6. Defra Bioenergy Crops R&D Programme Requirements to improve yield and yield stability: Estimate the yields across the UK, and identify major limiting factors. Improve the agronomy Improve the crops

7. Defra Bioenergy Crops R&D Programme What has been achieved so far? Agronomy and yield potential of willow, poplar, miscanthus, switchgrass and reed canary grass analysed. UK yield maps for miscanthus and SRC generated, switchgrass and reed canary grass potential assessed and Best Practice Guides for SRC and miscanthus produced in 2001.

8. Defra Bioenergy Crops R&D Programme What has been achieved so far? Assessment of environmental impacts of bioenergy crops. Effects of SRC and miscanthus on biodiversity, hydrology and carbon sequestration analysed, the data obtained was used to provide advice on the Best Practice Guides.

9. Defra Bioenergy Crops R&D Programme What has been achieved so far? Analysis of social and economic impacts of bioenergy crops. A study has been completed, and the results will inform policy in deciding the future of the Energy Crops Scheme.

10. Defra Bioenergy Crops R&D Programme What has been achieved so far? Improvement of yield and yield stability. Disease and pest resistance in SRC willow and poplar assessed, to evaluate threat from biological agents and develop strategies to ensure reliability of the crops. Genetic resources of miscanthus (250 lines) and poplar (198 lines) were collected to assess the yield potential of new material and allow the genetic improvement of the species.

11. Defra Bioenergy Crops R&D Programme What has been achieved so far? Improvement of yield and yield stability. Selections of lines in poplar and willow with greater potential for SRC have been made. Tools have been generated, and programmes for genetic improvement of miscanthus and SRC willow established.

12. Defra Bioenergy Crops R&D Programme Future deliverables of the R&D programme: Improvement of yield and yield stability. Programmes for the genetic improvement of SRC willow and miscanthus have been established – target is 16odt/ha.year. This is crucial to improving the competitiveness of the bioenergy sector.

13. Defra Bioenergy Crops R&D Programme Future deliverables of the R&D programme: Improvement of yield and yield stability. New biomass crop varieties trials, to assess their performance and provide guidance to growers who wish to establish new fields.