Resources by National Non-Food Crops Centre

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...

Anaerobic Digestion

From the National Non-Food Crops centre (NNFC), this factsheet reviews the potential of anaerobic digestion technology and its suitability to UK farming and waste systems. The factsheet describes the application of anaerobic digestion (AD), which is the conversion of organic non-woody material in the absence of...

Artemisia Crops to Treat Malaria

From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at the challenges of growing the crop Artemisia annua in the UK. The plant produces a compound, artemisinin which is a complex metabolite that cannot be synthesised readily in the laboratory. Artemisinin is an antimalarial drug and can be used to treat...

Bioplastics

From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet illustrates the benefits of using bioplastics, their production, properties and uses. The attraction of bioplastics is they deliver environmental benefits even when they aren’t biodegradable. Durables like polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE)...

Biorenewables Podcasts

From the National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC), these two podcasts explore a range of applications and issues in the biorenewables sector. They are primarily aimed at a commercial audience but may be of use to teachers who want to gain a better understanding of plant-derived materials or, when used in part, as...

Borage

From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at the crop Borago officinalis. This crop has been grown in the UK for a number of years as a high value, speciality oil crop. Similar to evening primrose, borage is recognised as a key source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), contained in the seed oil....

Building With Hemp-Lime Composites

From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at the use of hemp-based products and hemp-lime technologies into mainstream building practice. It illustrates the use of a plant-derived material in the construction of buildings. Hemp construction uses renewable crop-based materials which have absorbed...

Did You Know What Plant Oils Are Used For?

From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at the uses of oils derived from plant materials. This includes:

• soaps and detergents
• healthcare
• beauty products
• feedstocks for the chemical industry
• lubricants
• fuel.

Did You Know? Non-food Crops

These posters, from the National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC), help children to find out more about non-food crops, their uses and benefits. Making products out of renewable materials from non-food crops can be part of a solution to climate change. Renewable materials can help reduce carbon footprints. The NNFCC...

Echium

From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at the use of Echium plantagineum as a crop that produces speciality oils. Echium seeds contain oil, which is high in alpha linolenic acid (ALA), gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and stearidonic acid (SDA). Such characteristics make echium oil a valuable...