Moving Alternative Crops to the Mainstream: An Industry Perspective

By Mike Karst, Entira

Over the past few years, we've seen a parade of new or alternative crops getting headlines for their potential as new biofuel sources. From switchgrass to camelina and sweet sorghum to miscanthus, all show promise. However, as the pressure builds to find sustainable solutions to energy issues, the expectations are growing to move these new fuel sources from potential to reality.

Each crop brings its own set of opportunities and challenges and requires a complex combination of genetics, agronomics, mechanics and logistics to move from the seed to the harvested crop to a biofuel product. The current production, handling and processing infrastructure for mainstream crops like corn, soybean and wheat has evolved over decades. The challenge for today's new crops is to develop a system that works just as smoothly, but in a fraction of the time.

It is a classic "chicken-or-the-egg" scenario. Every new crop will be competing for acres that were used for other production purposes. Farmers aren't willing to commit to a new crop until they know there is large, long-term and ongoing demand for it. That means investments in research, equipment, handling and processing infrastructure. At the same time, processors and end-users aren't willing to make that investment until they have a large, consistent base of growers to produce the crop.

At Entira, we've worked with a number of companies dealing with this situation. In our work and research with growers across North America, there are three key areas where farmers have questions about growing a new crop: agronomics and growing practices, equipment and transportation needs, and the investment necessary to begin growing the crop. [Read More...]

Innovative Marketing or Greenwashing?

New Campaign Takes Precision Ag Message Direct to Consumers

Over the past twenty years, technology has revolutionized nearly every facet of agricultural production. From precision farming to biotech seeds to modern livestock production facilities, farmers have used technology to deliver higher quality products more efficiently with a smaller impact on the environment.

However, the average consumer's image of agriculture has likely not changed with the times. Say "farmer," and the average grocery shopper in a suburban supermarket will likely have images of her grandfather's farm with a red barn, 80 acres and a few pigs, complete with roaming cows and chickens. In fact, the words "technology" and "agriculture" often bring negative associations for many consumers.

That's why the recent campaign from Earthgrains bread caught our attention. It is one of the first to take a positive message about agriculture, technology and sustainability direct to consumers.

Earlier this year, Earthgrains launched a campaign centered around its "Eco-Grain Wheat" grown by farmers and used in one line of its bread products. According to the company, Eco-Grain farmers "use satellite imagery to help determine fertilizer requirements in any given area of the field. This "precision agriculture" or "variable rate technology" helps apply precisely the right amount of fertilizer every time to maximize yield and grain quality, while protecting the environment." [Read More...]

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Inside This Issue

Moving Alternative Crops to the Mainstream: An Industry Perspective

Innovative Marketing or Greenwashing?
New Campaign Takes Precision Ag Message Direct to Consumers