The Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union has produced unacceptable crop surpluses. Now there is a drive to find alternative crops that will allow land to remain in production, and keep farmers employed, without contributing to these food mountains. Crops that yield industrial products, such as fibres and oleochemicals, or which can be used as renewable energy sources, have the added attraction that they are an environmentally friendly alternative to products from the oil industry. The European Commission (EC) is funding research into such non-food crops under its Framework Programmes, described here.
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