By CINDY LADAGE
Illinois Correspondent

HANOVER, Germany — Going green is not just an American topic, as many know from the Copenhagen conference that President Obama and other world leaders attended last week. This global concern was also prevalent at Agritechnica, the largest farm show in the world, last month in Hanover.

Many bioenergy topics were prominent at this year’s show. In fact, an entire building was dedicated to bioenergy and renewable raw materials.

Livestock was a big portion of the discussion on bioenergy. Dirk Banemann represented Schauman Bioenergy and explained the biomass process.

“We provide the silage additive that produces bacteria for the silage application process,” he explained. “We sell additives, trace elements and micronutrients for optimized digestion, so biogas will be formed from the silage. An engine is able to burn the gas and it becomes part of the electricity grid. The input is significant.”
Their website www.schaumann-bioenergy.com states: “Schaumann Bioenergy is a specialist in the generation of energy from biomass – from substrate preparation to fermenter biology. Our experts offer solutions for any type of system and any substrate – from agricultural RRM (renewable raw materials) facilities to industrial waste recycling plants.“

“In our experimental biogas facility we are able to analyze the various factors determining the success of the methane generation process in batch trials and on a production scale in a two-line 500 kilowatt biogas plant,” the website detailed.

At the EuroTier 2006 exhibition, SILASIL ENERGY was awarded for its unique composition and economic relevance with the silver medal for innovation by the German Agricultural Society DLG.

Today, many experts claim it is more important than ever to encourage bioenergy while dealing with climate change issues. In a summary of the World Soil and Water Show at Agritechnica, experts said climate change has an impact on soil and water availability.
One way agriculture is stepping up to the plate besides producing bioenergy is the attempt to use less. Agritechnica’s Malene Conlong shared that farmers are trying to till the right way.

“Arable farming methods are constantly adapting to changes in the agricultural landscape,” Conlong said. “Soil tillage systems also need to be adapted to each condition. Conservation Agriculture and FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), together with the German Association for Conservation Tillage, (GKB) shared expertise in soil cover management for arid and wet regions.”