Soybean farmers may have an upperhand in biodiesel now, but hazelnut farmers might have the more sustainable edge.

Currently, 99% of US commercial hazelnuts come from Oregon, but farmers in Minnesota and Wisconsin are looking to get in on the action. Not that Oregonians should be wary; the Midwestern hazels are actually smaller and tougher, not so suitable for human nibbling, but perfect for animal feed and conversion to biodiesel.

Consider this: soy is composed of 20% oil and canola is 40%. But hazelnuts are a whopping 60% oil. Hazelnut biodiesel involves a one-step crushing and chemical process with a $16,000 German machine. Biodiesel makers say the machine is still a work-in-progress, but it's getting there. With so much oil in each hazelnut, it apparently would take very little for a nut farmer to grow his own operating fuel, and make a profit off the rest.

Farmers also say that they can produce a ton and a half of hazelnuts per acre, and that as perennial crops with hardy root systems, hazelnuts are environmentally-friendly, drought-resistant, and protect the soil from erosion.

Sound like a miracle? Well, it sounds promising, at least. We'll have to see if farmers who take the hazelnut path are able to maintain sustainable practices as operations expand.

Sources: Capital Press, Biodiesel Now

Comments (2)

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written by mary, April 16, 2008

would hazelnut biodiesel smell like hazelnuts? because that would be amazing.

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written by octopod, April 17, 2008

For tropical regions, kukui (candle) nut would be even better. I think that's something like 80% oil.

Very cool, though. Seems like a good option. What will they do with the pressed-out nut pulp?

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