Firms in the biofuels industry could soon be benefiting from discount rapeseed crops, due to stringent new guidelines.
According to Farmers Weekly, from the 2011 harvest, growers will need to sign a sustainability declaration for oilseed rape to ensure it complies with the European Union's Renewable Energy Directive.
Any crops that do not have this declaration will be subject to a price penalty, it suggests, which could result in a surplus of reduced cost oilseed rape being available.
The declaration includes ensuring that official restrictions on protected growing areas are complied with, along with meeting a sufficient greenhouse gas balance.
"It could result in a two-tier market – sustainable and non-sustainable," Openfield's head of oilseed rape trading John Thorpe told the publication.
This follows news that, according to Farmers Guardian, growers are still struggling to deal with regulation changes regarding glucosinate levels in oilseed rape.
Typical Guttridge equipment used in the biofuels industry includes:
