Addressing Land Use Issues for Non-food Crops

From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at the issues that surround using land for the growth of biofuel crops rather than food crops. Growing biomass for the energy market could reduce dependence on finite petrochemicals, potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enrich rural businesses. However, land is a finite resource so its efficient use is imperative. This factsheet looks at the current and possible future production of biomass in the UK. Also included is a 'crop-chooser' chart which illustrates the variety of non-food crops that can be grown and their potential end-use. This is a good summary of the types of crops and the considerations that a farmer may have when deciding whether or not to grow them.