The trials are part of the ‘Giant Link’ research project, led by specialists Terravesta, the company behind the growth of this exciting alternative crop. Visitors came on to their stand, to talk to the experts about the research investment they are making to maximise a lucrative future for miscanthus growers.
On display was a ‘snapshot’ of the Giant Link project, showing the new hybrids of miscanthus genotypes growing at different stages of development.
“On our plot we planted trial plugs from 10 centimetres in height (year 1) up to mature 2.5 metre tall crops (year 3),” explains Terravesta chairman, William Cracroft-Eley. “The final aim of the project is to develop hybrids that can be grown from seed rather than from the ‘traditional’ rhizome, and our plot at Cereals gave growers an idea of the work we are doing.
“At the moment, the only way to multiply the plant is by taking root cuttings, and this involves lifting the crop, breaking up the rhizome, and planting it out,” says William.
“You can only lift the rhizome every three years, because it needs to recover, and with one hectare of crop providing enough stock to plant 2000ha, it’s land hungry,” he explains.
“The hundreds of varieties from Asia that started the trials are now down to just three. Currently, we’re propagating from rhizome cuttings, and cloning the parent plant, but the movement to seed offers the opportunity for a breeding programme, a process that increases efficiency by 200 per cent, and one where we can select all the advantageous traits of the variety.
“The trials on display demonstrated Terravesta’s investment in the new techniques for crop establishment to secure and maximise its future as the leading perennial energy crop,” says William.
The Giant Link project, driven by Terravesta, is also supported by world leading plant breeding science from Aberystwyth University, and the University of Aberdeen, US biotechnology company Ceres Inc, DEFRA, the NFU, E.ON, Biocatalysts and Blankney Estates.
“I’m hugely enthusiastic about the opportunities the project offers,” says William. “I believe the outcome will be delivered into commercial production in the next two years, and offers us a very real opportunity to increase the UK growing area from the 8000ha we have today, to the potential of 350,000ha in the future.”