Willow has advanced as an energy crop but is the UK reaping the benefits?

Short Rotation Coppice willow can produce biomass from low levels of input in a wide range of environments. Through conventional breeding, higher yielding biomass willows are being developed for the UK industry. Investment in research is improving our understanding of the biology of willow and the unique genetic resources and molecular tools that are being developed will improve the efficiency of selecting promising genotypes early in the breeding process. Life cycle analyses indicate that high GHG reductions are achievable for renewable heat, power and transport fuels from SRC. Willows also require low nitrogen inputs and have potential for carbon sequestration, bioremediation and enhancement of farmland biodiversity. Biomass is recognised as an important part of the UK renewable energy strategy. However, to encourage farmers to grow willow a stronger policy framework is needed which provides significant incentives to renewable energy produced from domestic biomass where multiple environmental benefits are demonstrable.