Willow Varieties

Willow coppice is an environmentally friendly renewable energy source. In Europe there is a need for additional energy sources as substitute for the fossil fuels in a near future. Better varieties, with increased yield stability, and improved crop management has made willow more competitive as an energy source. In Sweden, where much of the development has taken place, the area of willow is now 15.000 hectares. In the breeding programme at Lantmännen Agroenergi (earlier Agrobränsle AB) the emphasis is on increasing yield, resistance to pests and diseases and tolerance to frost. Specific varieties for treatment of wastewater and remediation of soils polluted by heavy metals are under development.

* Shoot tip damage caused by gall midges and lepidopterans