BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 25. Azerbaijan has
begun implementing a pilot project with an Italian company aimed at
restoring degraded lands and exploring alternative raw materials
for biofuel production, the Ministry of Agriculture told Trend.
This initiative is being implemented under a memorandum of
understanding signed between the Ministry of Agriculture of the
Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan
Republic (SOCAR), and Italy’s Eni S.p.A. during President Ilham
Aliyev’s working visit to Italy on September 5, 2024.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the memorandum
outlines several key objectives, including the cultivation of
oilseed crops on degraded lands as a sustainable alternative to
conventional oil and its derivatives. Additionally, it promotes the
use of green manure crops within crop rotation systems to enhance
soil quality, alongside the evaluation of the potential for
reprocessing used vegetable oil waste. The memorandum also includes
the study of converting existing conventional oil refineries in
Azerbaijan into biofuel processing facilities, leveraging Eni’s
advanced technological expertise.
In alignment with the action plan established for this project,
a pilot initiative has already been launched. As part of this
effort, the Crop Research Institute, under the Ministry of
Agriculture, conducted spring trial plantings at the Kurdamir
Experimental Station. The project, titled “Determining the
Prospects for the Cultivation of Oilseed Crops Under Azerbaijani
Conditions,” aims to restore soil fertility in saline and degraded
areas while optimizing production efficiency.
The ministry noted that amid global climate change, the use of
oilseed crops for biofuel production as an alternative to oil has
become increasingly relevant. The pilot project seeks to assess
Azerbaijan’s potential in this area. Taking into account the need
to mitigate climate change impacts and introduce new crop varieties
suited to local soil and climate conditions, oilseed varieties
imported from Italy were initially tested in Azerbaijan. The main
goal is to evaluate their adaptability, productivity, resistance to
biotic and abiotic stress factors, and the applicability of new
cultivation technologies.
During the implementation of the project, seed germination rates
were carefully monitored in accordance with ISO standards, while
agrochemical indicators of the soil and the chemical composition of
irrigation water were analyzed to establish optimal fertilizer
application rates. The trials adhered to approved sowing norms and
planting schemes, utilizing a range of mustard plant varieties,
including camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz), crambe
(Crambe abyssinica Hochst. ex R.E.Fr.), and safflower
(Carthamus tinctorius L.), alongside sunflower
(Helianthus annuus L.) and castor (Ricinus
communis L.) varieties. Specific varieties tested included
"Fms Brilhante," "Caroline," "Omega," and "CAR. Cw 99ol," "Oscar,"
"RGT Angello," "RGT Volcano," "RGT Capitoll," "Idillic," "Mia,"
"Tamar," "Bhim+," "Gch9," and "Evf701."
Phenological observations were conducted throughout the growing
season, documenting plant growth stages, measuring photosynthetic
parameters, and assessing phytosanitary conditions. Key indicators
of vegetative and generative development were recorded, alongside
grain yield assessments for each variety.
Preliminary results indicate that certain varieties demonstrated
notably higher productivity compared to others. Specifically, both
tested safflower varieties, along with the sunflower varieties "RGT
Angello" and "Idillic," as well as castor bean varieties "Tamar"
and "Bhim+," showed superior productivity.
These initial findings suggest that the oils derived from the
selected varieties hold significant potential for use in Azerbaijan
as raw materials for biofuel or engine oil production, thereby
opening up a new agricultural production sector. Work on the pilot
projects, under the framework of the memorandum of understanding,
continues, with plans including the publication of scientific
studies, expansion of trial plantings, economic assessments of
cultivating on degraded lands, and an evaluation of the prospects
for large-scale production nationwide.
Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News
Agency's WhatsApp channel
