"Basically, it replaces the present combine harvester," says its inventor, East Yorkshire farmer, John Gossop. "By harvesting crops intact - that is the straw and the grain together – we can effectively utilise the annual 1.8 billion acres of straw worldwide for energy purposes.
At present much of this straw returns to the land releasing CO² back to the atmosphere without benefit. Because the energy and labour inputs up to harvest are the same whether the straw is utilised or not, the straw is a free asset at that point. This straw could be used for electricity production or cellulosic ethenol.”
Mr Gossop is not completely unknown in the farming community. Already an award-winning inventor, he has seen a previous farming invention manufactured commercially and set up a web site to consider the threats to future food security.
In addition to this he wrote the book, Famine in the West, which was recently described by Farmer's Weekly's David Richardson as "impressive"
So, can we all relax now, and stop worrying about global warming? Unfortunately not.
“The change to intact harvesting with local processing facilities would need considerable investment and possible government backing,” says John. “But the advantage of lower costs to farmers with additional output would be very worthwhile and a necessary step in obtaining more of our energy from the sun. We need to put pressure on Defra (Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to at least consider the idea. If we don't take action like this very soon, it will be too late, and the environmental consequences will be both devastating and irreversible."
Those who can see potential in an intact harvesting system are asked to lobby Defra. Contact information is available on www.peakfood.co.uk/
John Gossop is also looking for assistance in commercialising the harvester.
