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Non-food crops are used in many ways and touch many parts
of our daily lives. One example of the use of non-food crops is
bio-fuels.
Watch our first three minute
film
clip about biofuels. In the first of three films planned, we
introduce the 'innovation family', who are made up of innovation
child James, who is in his pre-teens, sat in the back of the car,
innovation adult Neil, who is in his early 30s, sat in the front
passenger seat and his older father Arthur, who is in his mid 60s,
driving the car.
They are driving through the lovely Kent countryside, when their
car shudders to a stop alongside a beautiful field of crops.
Arthur tries the ignition a few times and then gets out of the
car to look into the engine.
Following a short exchange where Neil tries to tell Arthur that
the car has just run out of petrol, Neil goes on to explain some of
the benefits of non-food crops.
The second scene is in a fuel filling station. Arthur unscrews
the filler cap, only to discover they have rolled the car up to a
pump with a yellow "out of fuel" tag on it. Arthur rolls his eyes
in frustration as a car pulls up at the pump next to him. They both
watch as the driver gets out and picks up a bio-diesel pump and
begins filling up. Arthur puts the useless pump back and they both
start pushing again. The scene ends with Arthur reminiscing when
the fuel station and surrounds was all fields.
The clip ends with some information points about non-food
crops:
- Even though non-food crops are mainly identified with biofuels,
they have lots of other uses that could have a big impact on our
everyday life.
- Non-food crops can be used to make energy, heat and even cool
our homes and buildings.
- They can be used for medicines, cosmetics, fabrics and building
and insulation materials. In other words, non-food crops that come
from sustainable sources, and not where their production damages
the natural environment, can make our lives not only greener but
also help our local economy.
Kent County Council works with other innovative organisations to
develop and explore energy alternatives that support a better
future.
Five reasons why non-food crops are good for Kent
- They help fight climate change: Non-food crops that come from
sustainable sources, and not where their production damages the
natural environment, can help us fight climate change. Non-food
crops can reduce CO2 emissions leading to a cleaner, better
environment to live in.
- They expand the different crops our farmers use: For our
farmers, non-food crops could provide another source of income.
Growing different crops means our farmers can have a wider source
of income.
- They help us use less energy; and energy that is locally
produced: Non-food crops can also help our county to be more energy
efficient. That means they help Kent not only to use less energy,
but also energy that we produce locally, is greener and
cleaner.
- They create new jobs, while helping the existing businesses to
grow further: Producing our own energy means that we will not
depend on other sources to get our energy. More jobs will be
created in the area of renewables to cover our new needs, and
existing businesses can benefit and expand even more.
- They put Kent in an ideal position to influence, as a national
and global leader in this area: Kent can also be a centre of
excellence, attracting not only new businesses, but also attention
from people that will be interested in this area, visit our area
and would want to work and live here, making our county renowned
for its innovation.
- It's our county: by looking at what we can grow and how we can
use it, we can create a brighter, cleaner and greener future for
everyone.
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