New Energy Farms develops new energy grass capsules

Biomass Power & Thermal
By Anna Simet
June 19, 2012

By reverse engineering a seed, energy crop developer New Energy Farms says it has developed a unique system for establishing miscanthus that could potentially reduce farmer establishment costs by 50 percent or more.

NEF has more than 15 years of experience in developing perennial energy grasses, but has made significant progress on the Crop Expansion Encapsulation & Drilling System (CEEDS) during the last two years, according to NEF cofounder and CEO Paul Carver, who holds a doctorate in miscanthus physiology.

Explaining how CEEDS work, Carver said the capsules contain vigorous vegetative tissue, to both protect it and allow it to develop prior to planting. “This is what delivers the more vigorous growth that we see,” he said.

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