RAS scientists are introducing a new agricultural crop in Russia – Kommersant
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Scientists at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics (ICG) SB RAS began to introduce a new crop into Russian agriculture – miscanthus, RIA Novosti reports. A network of enterprises for the production and processing of this plant into cellulose is being formed in the country. In particular, a plant was launched in the Moscow region, a site was also identified in the Novosibirsk region, and it is planned to create a similar plant in the Kaliningrad region.
Miscanthus is a genus of perennial (up to 30 years) herbaceous plants. Found in the wild in Australia, Asia and Africa. In Russia, in the south of the Primorsky Territory, the Chinese miscanthus species (Miscanthus sinensis) grows. According to the Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, from 1 hectare of plantations of this plant you can obtain on average up to 4 tons of cellulose, while obtaining the same amount from wood is technologically more difficult and more expensive.
In 2012, the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences developed and patented Russia’s first cultivated variety of miscanthus, “Soranovsky”. In 2020, a trial plantation was sown in the Moscow region and a cellulose production line was launched. As the Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS clarified, the institute’s industrial partner has already begun production of biodegradable tableware from cellulose obtained by processing miscanthus.
According to the institute, factories involved in the production of pulp from miscanthus are capable of producing 10 thousand tons of products per year. It is expected that each enterprise will focus on its own type of miscanthus pulp product. In particular, the plant in the Moscow region will develop technologies for other sites; in the future they intend to create a large-scale production facility there, the first of a planned series, the Center added.
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