Commercialized technology description
The documentation package of model technologies for growing energy crops describes the technological process involved in growing energy crops, and covers the following technologies:
- Technology of growing wheat for bioethanol production
- Technology of growing triticale for bioethanol production
- Technology of growing rye for bioethanol production
- Technology of growing grain maize for bioethanol production
- Technology of growing silage maize for bioethanol production
- Technology of growing sorghum for biogas production
- Technology of growing reed canary grass for biogas production
- Technology of growing Virginia fanpetals for biogas production
- Technology of growing sugar beet for bioethanol production
The description of the technological process includes a tabular summary of all procedures involved in the growing of different crops, together with information on the types of machinery sets used, area under specific crops, performance and working time of machinery and people, and materials used in the production process (such as seed and plant protection products).
The technologies were developed for model farms located in five Polish macroregions:
- the central macroregion: Kujawsko-Pomorskie and Wielkopolskie voivodeships,
- the south-western macroregion: Dolnośląskie and Opolskie voivodeships,
- the south-eastern macroregion: Lubelskie, Małopolskie, Podkarpackie, Śląskie and Świętokrzyskie voivodeships,
- the north-western macroregion: Lubuskie, Pomorskie and Zachodnio-Pomorskie voivodeships,
- the north-eastern macroregion: Łódzkie, Mazowieckie, Podlaskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodeships.
The following sizes of farms were considered:
- up to 20 ha of agricultural land (AL): the model area of 15 ha AL,
- 20 to 50 ha AL: the model area of 35 ha AL,
- 50 to 200 ha AL: the model area of 130 ha AL,
- 200 to 1000 ha AL: the model area of 600 ha AL,
- above 1000 ha AL: the model area of 1500 ha AL.
Model process sheets were prepared for:
- crops intended for ethanol production: grain maize, winter wheat, winter triticale, winter rye,
- crops intended for biogas production: silage maize, sugar beet, sorghum, reed canary grass, Virginia fanpetals.
The model technologies were based on three levels of farming intensity:
- extensive farming,
- medium intensive farming,
- intensive farming.
The model technologies were developed for three types of farms active in:
- crop production,
- crop and cattle production,
- crop and pig production.
The model technologies were designed for three basic soil types:
- light soils,
- medium soils,
- heavy soils.
The documentation package of model technologies for growing energy crops was developed by the academic staff of the then-existing Department of Management and Law as part of research efforts under the research project No. POIG.01.03.01-00-132/08 “Establishment of the species index and optimization of production technologies for selected energy crops.” In accordance with project requirements, the market value of the technologies for growing energy crops was assessed by an independent party selected through a tender procedure. Authors of the solution contributed to the valuation process with their expertise in agricultural production economics.
After the tests, in June 2015, the team of authors reported the outcomes of scientific research and the related know-how to the Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer as per the applicable procedure. Next, the University launched a dedicated procedure to make the decision on the commercialization of the solution in accordance with the Management rules for copyrights, related rights, industrial property rights and the principles for commercialization at the Poznań University of Life Sciences. The Director of the Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer issued a favorable opinion on the suitability of the technology for commercialization. The opinion was accepted by the competent Deputy Rector. As a next step, the Board in charge of Commercialization and Intellectual Property of the University adopted a resolution authorizing the University to launch the commercialization process. Upon meeting the internal procedural requirements, an invitation to submit offers for the purchase of technology licenses and an invitation to place purchase orders for the documentation of model technologies was published at the website of the Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer. In 2016, ten agricultural producers submitted their offers for the purchase of the documentation of model technologies. In June 2016, agreements were signed with them, and the documentation packages of model technologies for growing energy crops were delivered electronically to them. In 2018, another operator submitted its offer for the purchase of the documentation for five model technologies for growing energy crops covered by the package.
The proceeds from the purchase fees of documentation packages of model technologies for growing energy crops receivable by the University will be settled as per the Procedure for income calculation and monitoring in projects of priority axis 1 and 2 of the Innovative Economy Operational Program. The University is required to use this procedure because the research was financed with funds accessed under the Innovative Economy Operational Program co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.
The technologies covered by the package enable agricultural operators to plan crop rotation and choose the right crops depending on soil quality.