December 18, 2002

For Immediate Release

Contact: Mark Muller, IATP, 612-870-3420

Spencer Ferron-Tripp, Commission on Environmental Cooperation, 514-350-4331

Minneapolis - The Minneapolis-based Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) has received a grant from the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) to work collaboratively with other organizations, university researchers and government agencies to introduce more perennial crops for energy production and other uses into the Blue Earth River basin of south-central Minnesota.

"The conversion of cropland to perennial vegetation will benefit soil, air and water quality, while diversifying the agricultural economy," said Vic Shantora, acting CEC Executive Director. "Renewable energy production from this biomass could be used to generate electricity or a biogas for transportation and agricultural equipment."

The $14,700 grant will support IATP's work to find markets for perennial crops by conducting surveys of farmers and local businesses to identify current and future opportunities for these farmers. In addition, IATP is sponsoring workshops in January and February that will discuss new market opportunities for landowners, including opportunities in biomass production from sustainable forestry. This work has also received support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Corn and soybean currently dominate the region, resulting in increased soil erosion and decreased water quality. The corn/soybean agricultural system has not worked well for farmers as the price of these commodities frequently falls well below the costs of production.

As part of the project, the Blue Earth River Basin Initiative will pay farmers for agreeing to grow perennial crops instead of row crops like corn and soybean. The University of Minnesota will conduct research on marketable alternative crops that grow well in the soil and climate conditions of the Blue Earth River basin.

"In addition to perennial food and pasture plants, recent legislation and improved technologies in renewable energies like biomass, biofuels and manure digestion should provide tremendous opportunities for farmers to grow perennial crops," says IATP’s Environment and Agriculture Program Director Mark Muller.

This project provides a valuable test case for diversifying agriculture throughout the Midwest and North America. For the past 30 years the Midwest has undergone a significant trend toward less crop diversity. This trend has contributed to problems of soil erosion, chemical runoff, and pest pressures. Despite these issues, research and market development – both by public and private institutions – are disproportionately directed toward corn, soybean, wheat and the other major crops.

University of Minnesota researchers have already identified new perennial crops that may be profitable in the Blue Earth River basin and discussed those findings last month. Pasture crops like the Illinois bundleflower and energy crops such as fast growing willow trees appear to have the most potential.

In addition to work on expanding markets for new perennial crops, IATP will try to improve farm income from existing resources. Wind energy is a renewable energy source that fits well into a diversified landscape. Wind energy production can also offset lost income from row crop production and make perennial plantings more feasible. Working collaboratively with our Windustry project, IATP will conduct workshops on wind energy opportunities in the Blue Earth River basin.

IATP will also try to help improve the region’s environment and income for corn producers by developing a life cycle assessment for corn production. A very large corn buyer has requested that IATP collaborate with them on developing a certification process for sustainably produced corn. The life cycle assessment methodology (which includes energy consumption) will help determine what corn production can be considered sustainable – and help Blue Earth River basin farmers target this potential market.

More information about this project and IATP’s work to help farmers move beyond the corn/soybean rotation can be found at: www.iatp.org/enviroag

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy promotes resilient family farms, rural communities and ecosystems around the world through research and education, science and technology, and advocacy.

##