Biorenewables Podcasts
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC), these two podcasts explore a range of applications and issues in the biorenewables sector. They are primarily aimed at a commercial audience but may be of use to teachers who want to gain a better understanding of plant-derived materials or, when used in part, as stimulus material…
5/5- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Audio
Woodfuel Heating
Produced by the National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC), these two reports look at the use of wood for heating. They are technical reports but contain a lot of information that may be of use to teachers or post-16 students who are researching the subject and require in-depth information. The two reports cover heating for domestic,…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Information sheet
Anaerobic Digestion
From the National Non-Food Crops centre (NNFC), this factsheet reviews the potential of anaerobic digestion technology and its suitability to UK farming and waste systems. The factsheet describes the application of anaerobic digestion (AD), which is the conversion of organic non-woody material in the absence of oxygen into stable…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Information sheet
Eco-Stories: Cinderella and Three Little Eco-pigs
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC), this resource contains two traditional fairy tales that have been given an environmental twist. Cinderella must go to the ball with the smallest carbon footprint she can and the Three Little Pigs choose different materials to build their houses: concrete, wood and hemp. Read the…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Textbook
Groovy Green Adventures
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC), these colourful posters illustrate some of the products that can be made from plants. Engaging and clear, they can be used as a stimulus when introducing ideas about sustainable development and renewable materials. The posters cover: • medicines from plants • bioplastics •…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Poster
Grow Sunflowers, Make Plant Pots
This resource, from the National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC), explains how children can grow their own sunflowers and how plant oils can be made into plastic. It helps to demonstrate how sunflowers can be grown to produce a renewable supply of plant oil. This activity can be done at home or in school and allows children to…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Teacher guidance
Did You Know? Non-food Crops
These posters, from the National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC), help children to find out more about non-food crops, their uses and benefits. Making products out of renewable materials from non-food crops can be part of a solution to climate change. Renewable materials can help reduce carbon footprints. The NNFCC posters offer…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Poster
Vegetable Oil and Biodiesel Production
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at the production of vegetable oils and biodiesel for vehicle fuels. The factsheet gives information on the benefits of using bio-derived oils and also the economics of production. It also provides information on the use of biofuels.
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Information sheet
Did You Know What Plant Oils Are Used For?
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at the uses of oils derived from plant materials. This includes: • soaps and detergents • healthcare • beauty products • feedstocks for the chemical industry • lubricants • fuel.
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Information sheet
Short Rotation Coppice Willow
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) willow. This is grown as a high biomass energy crop across the UK. SRC Willow is a woody perennial crop, the rootstock remaining in the ground after harvest with new shoots emerging the following spring. Plantations can remain viable…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Information sheet
Starch
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at the production and industrial use of starch and modified starches. These have a broad range of uses in the food and non-food sectors. Starch can be either used in its native (unmodified) form or, if specific properties are required, it can be chemically modified.…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Information sheet
Succinic Acid
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet gives an overview of the current and potential market for biorenewable succinic acid. This is generally derived from petrochemicals and used in applications such as food and drinks, pharmaceuticals, solvents and biodegradable plastics. This factsheet also looks at the production…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Information sheet
The UK Biofuel Supply Chain 2008
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at the sources and supply of biofuels in the UK. It describes: • how biodiesel and bioethanol are produced • blends of biofuels used in vehicle fuels • sources and biofuel production in the UK • greenhouse gas emission reductions • future…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Information sheet
Lignocellulosic Ethanol in the UK
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at the production of ethanol from woody feedstocks. The advantage of using these feedstocks is that their use is not diverting food crops for ethanol production. The factsheet describes the sources of feedstocks, ethanol production and assesses the feasibility of production…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Information sheet
Miscanthus
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at miscanthus, which has been grown in the UK for a number of years as an energy crop. The harvested material can currently be used to generate heat and power and in the future may be used as a feedstock for advanced biofuels. The factsheet looks at the growth, harvesting,…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Information sheet
Renewable Building Materials
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet provides an introduction to the properties and advantages of renewable building materials. Renewable materials based on plants offer a sustainable alternative to conventional products in many applications. The factsheets give information on: • introduction to renewable…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Information sheet
Echium
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at the use of Echium plantagineum as a crop that produces speciality oils. Echium seeds contain oil, which is high in alpha linolenic acid (ALA), gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and stearidonic acid (SDA). Such characteristics make echium oil a valuable component in skin…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Information sheet
Ethanol
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet gives an overview of the current and potential market for biorenewable ethanol in chemical applications. It explores the production and uses of bioethanol. Bioethanol can be produced by the fermentation. Starch and sugar feedstocks are also food crops and so significant…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Information sheet
Hemp
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at hemp, which is grown widely as a fibre crop in Europe and is now also an established minor crop in the UK. Hemp may be grown for both its fibre and oil, and also shows potential as a renewable energy feedstock. The factsheet describes the growth, harvesting,…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Information sheet
Lactic Acid
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at the production of lactic acid from plant-based feedstock. Lactic acid can be produced by the fermentation of starch and has a wide range of uses. These include: • the food and beverage sector • pharmaceutical and chemical industries • personal…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Information sheet
Lignin
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet gives an overview of the current and potential market for lignin-based materials. Isolated lignin is used in a wide range of low volume, niche applications. As lignosulfate, it is used in areas such as dye manufacture, resins, concrete admixtures and pesticides. The…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Information sheet
Bioplastics
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet illustrates the benefits of using bioplastics, their production, properties and uses. The attraction of bioplastics is they deliver environmental benefits even when they aren’t biodegradable. Durables like polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Information sheet
Borage
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at the crop Borago officinalis. This crop has been grown in the UK for a number of years as a high value, speciality oil crop. Similar to evening primrose, borage is recognised as a key source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), contained in the seed oil. Borage oil is widely…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Information sheet
Building With Hemp-Lime Composites
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at the use of hemp-based products and hemp-lime technologies into mainstream building practice. It illustrates the use of a plant-derived material in the construction of buildings. Hemp construction uses renewable crop-based materials which have absorbed carbon dioxide,…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Information sheet
Artemisia Crops to Treat Malaria
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at the challenges of growing the crop Artemisia annua in the UK. The plant produces a compound, artemisinin which is a complex metabolite that cannot be synthesised readily in the laboratory. Artemisinin is an antimalarial drug and can be used to treat malaria parasites…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Information sheet
Addressing Land Use Issues for Non-food Crops
From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet looks at the issues that surround using land for the growth of biofuel crops rather than food crops. Growing biomass for the energy market could reduce dependence on finite petrochemicals, potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enrich rural businesses. However,…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Information sheet