Both its 2012 and 2013 series natural fuel engines have been certified to run on 100pc raw canola seed oil, while meeting the latest biofuels standards.

Deutz-Fahr says its new engine series offers the same reliability and durability as those operating with diesel fuel.

A critical component in their operational success lies with the company’s fuel management system comprising an engine regulator with integrated fuel control technology.

Essentially, the latest electronic wizardry oversees the flow of either canola seed oil or diesel from separate fuel tanks – one carrying 305L of plant oil, the other 100L of diesel.

The dual-tank system is required because the engines are started on diesel fuel but there is an automatic switchover provision from diesel fuel to canola seed oil and vice versa.

Also in the limelight at the big German equipment exhibition late last year was Fendt’s 820 Variogreentec tractor which also can run on canola seed oil and which, according to its website, was developed in cooperation with Deutz.

Meanwhile, Malcolm Shute who heads Massey Ferguson’s 320-strong Engineering team at Beauvais, France, says the use of alternative fuels is set to have wide-ranging ramifications with ‘Generation One’ biofuels currently the farm machinery industry’s main focus.

“These are derived from agricultural crops like oilseed canola and can be mixed at different percentages with fossil fuels or used 100pc pure,” he said.

“The next stage is ‘Generation Two’ biofuels made from biomass which constitutes all manner of organic matter such as hemp, maize, poplar, willow, etc.”

Mr Shute says MF is also conducting research into the use of hydrogen directly or, alternatively, its use to make more familiar liquid fuels, probably alcohols, which could easily be used in the world’s existing liquid fuel distribution infrastructure.

“Another route is the use of fuel cells,” he said.

* Extract from 10-page Farm Machinery Feature in all Rural Press farm newspapers, May 22.