Biomass yields continue to rise

Scientists at the University of Wageningen has recently examined the influence of plant breeding on yields in the period from 1980-2010. 

By the use if a special technique, they have managed to separate the effect of plant breeding from other factors such as weather, the air’s amount of CO2, cultivation strategy etc.

The results showed that new varieties introduced in the period from 1980-2010 all had higher yields than previous varieties. This was true for winter wheat, spring barley, starch potatoes, sugar beets and to a less extent food potatoes. 

The results show that there are great possibilities for increasing yields, even in industrialised countries where we already have high yields. If we at the same time use the increased yields from e.g. winter wheat in a biorefining process, where the feedstock is separated so that all parts are used in the most optimal way possible, we have a truly great potential to meet the rising demand for food and energy.