Germans mainly grow maize as a renewable raw material

The German acreage on which renewable raw materials are grown remained fairly constant last year. In total, this concerns 2,63 million hectares. By far the largest part of this is filled with maize for the production of biogas. This is apparent from figures published by Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe (FNR) on Tuesday 12 April.

The total German agricultural area is 16,7 million hectares. Last year almost 16% of this was used for the production of industrial raw materials and energy raw materials. The cultivation of energy crops accounts for almost 89% of the area of ​​renewable raw materials. With 1,57 million hectares, silage maize for the production of biogas accounts for the lion's share of the area of ​​renewable raw materials. At a considerable distance follows rapeseed that is processed into biodiesel, with 493.000 hectares. Also, 265.000 hectares are cultivated for the production of bioethanol and there are 11.200 hectares for solid fuels such as wood and miscanthus.

Crops are grown on 293.000 hectares for industrial applications. More than half of this is for industrial starch, followed by 112.600 hectares for vegetable oils. The remaining area is used for industrial sugar, raw materials for pharmaceuticals, dyes and fiber crops.

Jurphaas Lugtenburg

He is a market specialist in grains and other agricultural commodities at DCA Market Intelligence. He also focuses on onions, potatoes, and roughage. Jurphaas also runs an arable farm in Voorne-Putten (South Holland).

j.lugtenburg @boerenbusiness. Nl

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.