Ana Rosu
University of Agronomical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Romania
Title: Camelina sativa: A promising cost-effective crop for biofuel feedstock; testing the optimization of Camelina farming in Romania
Biography
Biography: Ana Rosu
Abstract
Global energy insecurity in the face of diminishing fossil oil reserves revitalized the interest to identify alternative renewable sources of energy feedstock with an emphasis on plants. There is increased interest in Camelina sativa due to the exquisite quality of its seed oil as a source of green energy namely of bio-based petroleum substitutes especially aircraft biofuel. A top priority on the EU environmental agenda is the use of alternative aviation fuels aiming to achieve an annual production of two million tons of sustainably produced biofuels for the European civil aviation by 2020 (European Advanced Biofuels Flightpath). Though Camelina seed oil has been used on Romanian territory since the Bronze Age for food, medicinal purposes and as lamp oil, after the Second World War it was replaced by higher yielding crops. It is now obvious that in order to provide sufficient Camelina seed oil to be used as a bio-based petroleum substitute, it is imperative to develop new varieties characterized by high and stable yield, higher oil content and increased adaptability to the environmental conditions. Another basic requirement for having enough available feedstock is to develop reliable and cost-effective agro-technology for the cultivation of this species. Answering these challenges was the aim of two European research projects with Romanian participation (ITAKA and NICAVA). The trials of Camelina production in different Romanian locations proved that this crop has a good production potential even on polluted soils and the production variables which affect the seed yield and the oil quality are discussed.
