For an innovative solution for precision planting of elephant grass (miscanthus), the province of Drenthe grants a subsidy from the Future-Oriented Agriculture scheme. This involves the development of a new semi-automated, GPS-controlled planting system for sustainable strip cultivation of elephant grass on existing grassland. The initiators, a dairy farmer and a contracting company from the municipality of Westerveld, aim to develop a planting system that is both efficient and scalable. For this project, the initiators receive a contribution of € 40,000 from the province.
With the project, they aim to overcome barriers such as inefficient, manual planting methods and the lack of suitable planting techniques for grassland. With the machine to be developed, they can plant eight to ten hectares per day, while with the existing manual method, two to three hectares can be planted per day. Additionally, the machine can use GPS for precise planting, ensuring optimal plant density and good distribution of plants.
Due to precision planting, minimal soil cultivation is needed, and no pesticides need to be applied. Furthermore, machines can be used efficiently for weed control during the growth phase. The machine to be developed will first be used as a contracting machine. If there is sufficient demand, the plan is to make a second machine available for rental or for use within their own contracting company.
Insulation Material
The reason for the project is the increasing national demand for alternative, sustainable crops such as elephant grass. The crop is particularly suitable as insulation material for cavity walls and insulation boards. Additionally, it can be used as animal bedding and contributes to CO₂ storage. Elephant grass, also known as Miscanthus, is a fast-growing, clump-forming ornamental grass that originates from Asia. It can grow three to four meters high in a growing season.
