Agave, traditionally used to produce tequila, has a stem containing fructan and spiky leaves rich in fibre and fermentable sugars. It thrives on a wide range of land conditions from subtropical to semi-arid due to its own water management system. Agave uses
Agave characteristics
Agave is proven to produce up to 800 tonnes of biomass per hectare from three to six years after planting. Agave can grow in Australia on land which is currently:
A perennial, rather than an annual crop, agave can be harvested on demand, 12 months per year, providing a constant, year-round source of biomass for the processer and consumer. As shown in the below table, agave has shown to significantly outperform sugarcane, a crop that has traditionally been used for biomass feedstock. Agave is drought proof and fire resistant and ideally suited to withstand climate change impacts.
• • • •
under-utilised,
low cost,
not used for food production and
low rainfall.
Growing on land of such conditions can produce high-yielding crops with minimal inputs, providing a pathway to more efficient, carbon neutral, biofuel and biogas production.
In recent years, the diversity of the plant’s merits has attracted considerable attention in the science, food and fuel industries. Agave has a range of uses, including: • biomass feedstock for green hydrogen, renewable diesel, bioethanol and sustainable aviation fuel. For example, the juice can be directly converted to green hydrogen;
• land reclamation such as mining towns;
• agave spirit;
Conditions
Sugarcane
Agave
• agave syrup;
Land competition
High (optimal land)
Low (marginal land)
• potential for carbon sequestration credits;
Climate
Tropical
Sub-tropics to semi-arid
Chemical requirements/fertiliser
High
Low
•
inulin (dietary fibre); and
Irrigation/water requirements
Yes/high
No/low
• hand sanitiser.
Sugars/starch
10-14%
15-25%
• fibre for industrial uses such as electricity, building materials, biogas and cattle feed;
Agri value of land/demand as food Very high
Low
04
05
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