Going red to stay green

By Nadine Armstrong

The Hants Journal/NovaNewsNow.com

There are plenty of corn and apples to be had and harvested in Hants County, but a new crop is on the horizon. One that is edible, certainly, but the purpose of which actually will be to fuel the way to the future for motorists and farmers alike.

With the support of the federal government’s Sustainable Development Technology initiative, Atlantec BioEnergy Corporation (ABC) farmers can plan to turn the every day beet into green energy alternatives.

Last year, Bob Wilson planted 32 acres of beets on his Falmouth farm. That crop will be soon turned into ethanol, and eventually end up in someone’s gas tank. Dozens of farmers flocked the Wilson farm July 31 to find out what all the hype was about and how they could get a hand in it.

Based out of LaHave, Nova Scotia, ABC has put its “energy” beets to the test and discovered that one tonne of the sugary marrow can produce up to 100 litres of high-octane fuel -- a cost-effective and clean gas additive.

The company was on site that afternoon in hope of marketing the concept to farmers throughout the Valley area. Wilson, for one, has already been sold on the concept.

He was one of a handful of farmers who bought into the trial phase of the operation and agreed to partner with ABC to test the sustainability of a beet crop.

“When this year is done I'll have a indication if this is a profitable crop,” Wilson said. Typically, the farm produces a rotation of corn, soybeans, wheat and hay. Wilson said that, although the market is there for those products, prices are unpredictable at best.

“I’m interested to know if I can produce a cash crop with a reasonable return,” he noted, something all farmers hope for at the end of the season.

Manageable risk

Wilson said it wasn't without risk, however. For the trial year, ABC leases the land while he grows the crop. Next year, he'll consider going it alone with assurances the company will purchase the beets at a profitable margin.

Although input costs such as fertilization are fairly high, he said it doesn't really differ from any other crop. “They are pretty easy to grow, but until you’ve harvested, there is no way of knowing you’ll get your money back.” But it’s that way with every crop, he added.

Although a site for the production plant has yet to be selected, ABC communications manager Ron Coles said this year was an important piece of the puzzle.

“We really needed to model the crop off and use some for the testing process,” he said. “And it is important to conduct research for the farmers who might be interested.”

Coles said beets are already an established crop known to farmers worldwide, and the studies have shown that Maritime farmers can meet or exceed average yields -- ideal for mass fermentation. In the past, corn has been used for ethanol production, but Atlantec says the new strain of “energy beets” created solely for that market will improve upon traditional ethanol plant design and minimize environmental impact.

Cole said the bi-products of production could be used as a source of electricity, liquid fertilizer and thermal energy.

They also plan to keep profits in local pockets, said ABC general manager Gary Malone. “The product will be sold to Maritime drivers, so the money goes back to rural Nova Scotian families and farmers.”

Daniel Martins, a tobacco farmer from Prince Edward Island, has been in on the project from the start. His family farm had been impacted by a recent decline in sales, and he is more than willing to give beets crops a try. In his first year with ABC, he produced 26 tonnes per acre of beets. This year, he hopes to exceed that. “We’ve been involved since day one. We now have a lot of faith in Atlantec, and they have in us, as well.”

‘Food or fuel’ debate

The debate still looms, Martins said, over producing fuel or food, but in this case it is one-half-dozen-of-the other for everyone. “There is so much land here standing empty and this is an opportunity to grow a cash crop that will support later crop rotation.” Food prices are already on the rise as a direct result of sky-rocking energy costs. “Everyone needs food and everyone needs fuel,” Martins said. “But, really, they work hand in hand. Consumers and farmers need to come together and this is how it can happen.”

By touring successful demonstration/ research farms such as the Bovidae Farm here in Falmouth ABC hopes to help farmers understand the concept from a grass roots point of view, Martins said. “Farmers will always listen to other farmers.”

Lise LeBlanc of Windsor was the first to plug the idea to Wilson. She has worked as fertilizer specialist for many area farms and is now soil and crop consultant for ABC. “I think this is a wonderful opportunity. We know how hard it's been for producers.” LeBlanc noted that much of the areas farmland has been mined down over the years. “This is a chance to bring fields back up to a good level by increasing fertility so farmers can make a profit from other crops as well.”

Atlantec has contracted over 500 acres with farmers in Kings, Hants, Halifax, Colchester, Cumberland and Pictou counties. All fields cover a wide range of soils types from a pH of 6.5 and under. The company is now ready to expand operations. Since the beet is a hardy plant, ABC is also looking toward winter crop production in future years. The company will host several more grower field days as well as beet growing schools and mentoring programs for interested farmers.

For more information go to www.atlantecbioenergy.com.