Growing crops for uses other than food is hardly new: farmers and growers have been helping to meet the demand for oils, biomass and fibres for a good many years. Until the 20th century agriculture provided all clothing, paints, oils, ropes etc plus fuel via oats for transport (horses) - and how long ago did farmers first rear sheep for their wool? Products have been developed, taken off, thrived for a period and declined as tastes have changed or a more popular alternative has emerged. But there must be opportunities to develop new products or to revive unfashionable ones, taking advantage of new technologies and new consumer demands. I hear conflicting views about the economics of energy crops, even within the farming industry. Sceptics assure me that even with a further cut in duty biodiesel, it will not be competitive. They describe the burning of biomass as a 19th century approach to meeting energy needs. But enthusiasts are equally adamant that plans for a renewable transport fuel obligation will boost demand for biodiesel and help it to compete with the stuff from beneath the North Sea, and they cite other benefits such as cleaner emissions and a cut in the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere of 60 per cent plus for UK produced biodiesel. Biomass, they argue, is sustainable and CO2 reducing - especially in a combined heat and power plant. There is growing interest in bioethanol produced from sugar beet, wheat and other crops such as waste apples and even talk of developing small-scale crushing plants that a small number of oilseed rape growers could share. The insulating properties of wool are widely recognised, and discerning customers are seeking out high quality, natural fibres. Wool handling and costs of labour and transport both on the farm and in the depot have long been a concern, so unsurprisingly there is interest in a farm press pack machine, being evaluated this season by the British Wool Marketing Board. Enthusiastic producers feel it will save them space, time and labour. The NFU plans to use wool insulation in its new headquarters building at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire. At the Royal Show there was some excitement over nettle knickers. There were also farmers and scientists talking enthusiastically about the potential of crops such hemp and flax. The NFU is showing its commitment to non-food uses by making our deputy president, Peter Kendall, spokesman on the subject and becoming a sponsor of the new national non-food crop centre in York. We need to ensure that we work with the other sectors of the economy in our region, in the same way that oilseed rape growers in the North East are making use of the longestablished fertiliser, petrochemical and electricity generation industries on Teesside to develop the market for biodiesel and biomass. One of the most exciting prospects is for the West Midlands car industry to significantly increase the use of renewable fibres in vehicle assembly. Over the past decade German industry has invested around £90 million in R & D relating to use of natural fibre applications. There is a real opportunity here for farmers, car manufacturers, scientist and others to work together in the West Midlands to boost use of natural fibres. The NFU will be lobbying to ensure that the regional sustainable development framework and regional energy strategy, both currently in preparation, provide the institutional support and funding required to ensure that we do not fall behind other regions and indeed other countries. In fact, we should be ready to overtake them. * David Collier is regional director of the National Farmers' Union | 
