A range of Biomass Crops have been established at AFBI Hillsborough as part of Project Biomass-Connect, part of the £32m Department for Energy and Security Net Zero (DESNZ) Biomass Feedstock Innovation fund.
![](https://www.afbini.gov.uk/sites/afbini.gov.uk/files/styles/inline/public/images/%5Bcurrent-domain%3Amachine-name%5D/news/Picture2.jpg?itok=2MPSDDXu×tamp=1700188511)
Biomass-Connect consists of 8 sites around the UK in all 4 nations and are demonstrating crops such as willow, miscanthus, hemp, poplar, black locust, alder, eucalyptus and a number of other crops such as reed canary grass, switch grass, sida & silphium.
As well as demonstration, a number of variety trials and assessments are also established. The DESNZ initiative is also aiding in the development of a number of innovations which include advanced propagation, harvesting, planting, genetics and knowledge provisition technologies and services. AFBI is involved in a number of these developments and trials.
![Biomass Connect Hub Site Biomass Connect Hub Site](https://www.afbini.gov.uk/sites/afbini.gov.uk/files/styles/inline-expandable/public/images/Biomass%20Connect%20Hub%20site.jpg?itok=Ldvy56fA)
There are ambitions in the UK Biomass Strategy and advice from the Committee of Climate Change that biomass crops are an essential part of the wider solution to meet Net Zero 2050.
Latest news
- AFBI targets nutrient efficient grass development through partnership on €2.1 million DAERA/DAFM project BIOS4Grass 07 August 2024
- Lungworm 30 July 2024
- AFBI Survey on Best Practice and Farm Knowledge Exchange Programmes in Northern Ireland 24 July 2024
- Active 'Zone 3' Registration Open 23 July 2024