Feasibility of Agave As a Feedstock for Biofuel Production in Australia
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Feasibility of Agave as a Feedstock for Biofuel Production in Australia RIRDC Publication No. 10/104 RIRDCInnovation for rural Australia Feasibility of Agave as a Feedstock for Biofuel Production in Australia by Don Chambers and Joseph A. M. Holtum November 2010 RIRDC Publication No. 10/104 RIRDC Project No. PRJ-003411 © 2010 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-1-74254-075-7 ISSN 1440-6845 Feasibility of Agave as a Feedstock for Biofuel Production in Australia Publication No. 10/104 Project No. PRJ-003411 The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances. While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication. The Commonwealth of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors. The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication. This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. However, wide dissemination is encouraged. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the RIRDC Publications Manager on phone 02 6271 4165. Researcher Contact Details Don Chambers Dr Joseph A. M. Holtum Ausagave Tropical Plant Science and Agriculture PO Box 32 School of Marine and Tropical Biology Aldgate South Australia 5154 James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Phone: 08 8370 1000 Phone: 07 47 814391 Email: [email protected] Fax: 07 4781 5511 Web: www.ausagave.com.au Email: [email protected] In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form. RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 2, 15 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6271 4100 Fax: 02 6271 4199 Email: [email protected]. Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Electronically published by RIRDC in November 2010 Print-on-demand by Union Offset Printing, Canberra at www.rirdc.gov.au or phone 1300 634 313 ii Foreword In the 21st century, water efficiency and diversification of income streams are emerging as key drivers in Australian agriculture. This report examines the feasibility of growing an extremely water-use efficient desert plant, Agave tequilana, in conjunction with sugar-cane or sorghum, to provide feedstock for the production of ethanol. For reasons associated with climate change and a projected increased demand for imported oil, Australian states have mandated ethanol-petrol blends that will require about 748 million litres ethanol per annum by 2011. Australian production is currently only 231 million litres. Agave tequilana is a species that has been used to produce alcohol (ethanol) for two centuries. Varieties have already been generated, cropping systems trialled and fermentation technologies developed. Although the crop is new to Australia, trials can be undertaken immediately in order to fine-tune the crop for production under Australian environmental and market conditions. Most other new potential ethanol-generating crops are still 5 to 10 years away from testing in the field. It is planned to grow A. tequilana as a rain-fed crop. The plant has important attributes including an ability to store sugars throughout the year, a characteristic that may enable it to be processed in sugar- processing plants to prolong crushing periods; low-lignin cellulose fibres in the leaves that should be conducive to Generation 2 ethanol production; and the production of oligofructan carbohydrates that have widespread use in the food, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries by virtue of their texture, solubility, sweetness, low digestibility (low glycemic index) and their ability to enhance the growth of beneficial Bifidobacteria. This report demonstrates the feasibility of growing A. tequilana in Australia and pinpoints uncertainties in growing a crop that is new to Australian farmers and processors. Both agronomic and financial predictions need to be tested in well-planned field trials. The research for this report has been supported by Ausagave, James Cook University and RIRDC. This report is an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 2000 research publications. It is part of our Bioenergy, Bioproducts and Energy R&D program which aims to meet Australia’s research and development needs for the development of sustainable and profitable bioenergy and bioproducts industries and to develop an energy cross-sectoral R&D plan. Most of RIRDC’s publications are available for viewing, free downloading or purchasing online at www.rirdc.gov.au. Purchases can also be made by phoning 1300 634 313. Craig Burns Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii Contents Foreword ............................................................................................................................................... iii Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. ix 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 2 3. Ethanol: an emerging commodity .................................................................................................... 3 3.1 Ethanol as a biofuel ............................................................................................................... 3 3.2 Demand for Ethanol in Australia ........................................................................................... 4 3.3 Ethanol Production in Australia ............................................................................................ 5 3.4 Ethanol shortfalls in Australia ............................................................................................... 8 4. Agave tequilana: the plant and the crop .......................................................................................... 9 4.1 The Plant .............................................................................................................................. 10 4.1.1 Systematic description ............................................................................................ 10 4.1.2 Species description ................................................................................................. 10 4.1.3 Notes on Agave and A. tequilana ........................................................................... 12 4.2 History of A. tequilana ........................................................................................................ 12 4.3 Agave tequilana, the crop .................................................................................................... 13 4.3.1 Main production areas in Mexico ........................................................................... 13 4.3.2 Climate .................................................................................................................... 14 4.3.3 Soils ........................................................................................................................ 15 4.3.4 Cultivation .............................................................................................................. 17 4.3.5 Susceptibility to disease and pathogens .................................................................. 17 5. Physiology and ecophysiology ........................................................................................................ 18 5.1 Photosynthetic pathway ....................................................................................................... 18 5.2 Productivity ......................................................................................................................... 20 5.4 The carbohydrate complement of A. tequilana ................................................................... 27 5.5 Climate change and CAM/Agave productivity ................................................................... 30 6. A. tequilana as an Australian industry ........................................................................................... 34 6.1 Production of A. tequilana in Australia: the Ausagave project ........................................... 34 6.1.1 Comparison of Australian and Mexican climates ................................................... 35 6.1.2 Comparison of Australian and Mexican soils ......................................................... 36 6.2 Cultivation practices