A $10,000 grant for biodiesel research or trials has just been announced by leading farm equipment manufacturer, Case IH.

Case IH Marketing Manager, Stuart Brown, said: “It is important that the industry finds the best way to prepare for a biodiesel future.

“Fossil fuels are running out and over time, petroleum based fuels will simply become unaffordable.

“And with growing consumer environmental awareness and pressure to reduce carbon emissions, we have to look towards fuel solutions that are responsible and sustainable in the long term.

“There are many issues still to be addressed, including balancing global food and fuel needs, and, locally, issues around distribution and quality assurance.

"It’s also vital that we find ways to help farmers adopt proper fuel system maintenance procedures before they consider biodiesel use.”

It is already possible to use biodiesel (in various percentages) in all Case IH equipment, and the company is continually working on engine technology so that future biodiesel engines will be as gutsy and productive as their conventional diesel equivalents.

The grant-winning application might be for direct research into how to produce different types of biodiesel, or it could be broader, perhaps looking at developing Australian standards for biodiesel, or working on retro-fit filtration systems for fuel storage tanks to make them suitable for biodiesel.

For details on the grant, application guidelines and an application form, visit:

www.caseih.com/au/bioready

Applications close on October 31 and the grant winner will be announced in early December.