| Camelina is a new product out these days that can | | | | that has to be dealt with when thinking about the |
| be used to make biodiesel, it is friendly to our | | | | development of Irish biodiesel is the cost of the rape |
| environment and is an alternative to diesel fuel. | | | | seed. The rape seed is used as feedstock for the |
| Producers of camelina say that it can be produced | | | | biodiesel plant. |
| for a much lower price than other biodiesel crops, for | | | | The financial viability of any biodiesel plant always |
| the first time ever it is making the fuel competitive | | | | depends on the cost of the feedstock which is used |
| when it comes to price with its petroleum | | | | in biodiesel production. In Ireland, many alternatives |
| counterpart. | | | | have been considered for the reduction of feedstock |
| Due to the fact that gas prices continue to soar at | | | | costs, one of these is the use of a lower cost oil |
| the pumps, there has been increased interest in | | | | seed like camelina. |
| alternative fuel sources so that the nation won’t | | | | Camelina can be grown very successfully in Ireland. |
| have to depend on foreign oil as their source. The | | | | Typically the seed yields 3 tonnes per hectare during |
| crop is ideal for many different areas. Farmers just | | | | winter. During the spring it yields 2.5 tonnes per |
| simply have to get used to growing it. | | | | hectare. The crop doesn’t really have high |
| Camelina is great because it is very tolerant of cold | | | | fertilizer and pesticide requirements when you |
| weather and can also be planted as soon as tractors | | | | compare it to rape crops even though the oil yield of |
| are able to get out onto the fields. It can be | | | | Camelina seed is quite similar to that of rape seed. |
| harvested during the month of July, and it has a high | | | | Because there are lower inputs required for camelina |
| possibility of being double cropped. | | | | production, the result is a lower seed cost and |
| In Ireland, camelina is something that they are | | | | therefore making it a more favourable energy ratio |
| definitely looking into. One of the principal barriers | | | | than rape seed. |