Boost for UK farmers as British Oil proves a hit with industry

A British grown non-food crop is proving of such high quality that national and international customers are queuing up to buy as much of the crop as farmers can grow. A Defra-backed project leading development of non-food crops is now looking for more farmers to sign-up to meet this demand.

Oils from non-food crops can be used to produce everything from plastics to cosmetics, and offer a high-grade, natural alternative to traditional mineral oils.

Non-food crops were identified as an important opportunity for farmers to diversify and industry to innovate in the Government’s Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food. The National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC) was established in York in November 2003. Its role is to unite the experience of the farmers who produce non-food crops, the scientists who research their potential, and businesses that generate demand for them.

Last year Springdale Crop Synergies of Rudston, near Driffield recruited 230 farmers to grow Crambe (Abyssinian Mustard) for a guaranteed two-year contract with Croda Chemicals, the UK’s largest producer of natural-based speciality chemicals. It now wants to increase the number of farmers involved to 800.

A pioneer in the non-food crop sector, Springdale was awarded £292,500 RES grant from Defra to help recruit farmers to grow non-food crops and develop an on-farm demonstration centre. It acts as a broker, linking farmers with industrial users and is the demonstration farm for the NFCC.

The high quality of the crop delivered last year has led Croda to increase its order for UK-grown Crambe oil. Crambe is mainly processed for manufacture of the slip agent used in products such as supermarket plastic bags.

Stuart Arnott , Operations Director of Croda Chemicals Europe said:

“Following the delivery from farm of this year’s Crambe crop, the commercial crush has produced an excellent oil. We continue to have a steeply increased demand for Crambe”.

Clifford Spencer, managing director of Springdale said:

“Croda have been so impressed by the quality of UK grown Crambe that they now aim to source as much as possible from UK growers. As a result Springdale has increased the 2004 price per tonne by 20%. Last year 10,000 acres of Crambe were grown, we now estimate that there is an annual market for 50,000 acres.

“This is a traditional style crop which produces good yields from sound farming techniques and doesn’t require any special equipment or chemicals. It is well suited to the climate and soils associated with traditional arable crops, without the risk of growing a commodity crop.”

The development of this sector will benefit farmers looking for new markets in the wake of reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP); some non-food crops will be grown on set-aside land and there will be financial help for energy crops and biofuels.

As well as indicating how farmers can diversify into new markets, the development of non-food crops can, in many cases, contribute to a cleaner environment:

• They are renewable, so reduce the need to deplete fossil fuels and other finite resources.

• Through replacing petrochemicals in energy production, they can help reduce carbon emissions.

• Their use helps to reduce the volume of non-biodegradable waste going to landfill.

• They can help to meet society’s demands for sustainable products.

Jeremy Tomkinson, Chief Executive of the NNFCC, said:

“The market demand for industrial crops is growing rapidly – we are actively looking for UK farmers to grow crambe and hemp for use in industrial products.”

“These are profitable non-food crops which offer real commercial opportunities for diversification of UK agriculture. Crops such as Crambe, which are grown as industrial feedstocks, have the additional incentive of support under the Arable Area Payments scheme for cultivation on set-aside land.

“The markets for these crops are very diverse: for instance we have contractors on our books who want borage grown for the healthcare market; hemp is used in products ranging from car panels to personal care products and Crambe helps you open your plastic bag in the supermarket.”