In this project Agrasys is collaborating with the Institute of Sustainable Agriculture (Cordoba) and the University of Jaén to develop a new energy crop (genomic combination DDRR, from hybridization of rye with lines of Aegilops, an ancestral wheat). The first lines produced of this new cereal type were seen to have high potential as a biomass crop for lignocellulosic alcohol (LCA) production. LCA, produced by the digestion of whole plant biomass, is one of the second-generation biofuels with most potential and there is clear need to develop biomass crops suitable for this application.

Apart from its high productivity, DDRR has other valuable traits, including fast establishment and good disease resistance and it is suited as a biomass crop for production in rainfed areas in S. Europe.

The project includes field evaluation of existing lines of DDRR, with subsequent analyses of biomass quality traits and LCA production, in comparison with other biomass cereals. In parallel, new lines of DDRR are being synthesized from crosses between parental lines selected to contribute improved agronomic and quality characteristics.

This research will provide the basis for the introduction of an alternative crop type suited for LCA production and adapted to production in areas with limited water availability, where other biomass crops are less productive.