Are
hazelnuts a new fuel source?
Recently there has been increased interest in hazelnut
production in the Northeast, primarily by Dr. Thomas Molnar,
Department of Plant Biology and Pathology at Rugers University.
Hazelnuts produce a high-value nut that is a nutritious
food source and the oil produced from hazelnuts has properties
similar to that of olive oil. Longer-term hazelnuts also
hold potential as a sustainable feedstock for the production
of biodiesel and other oleochemicals.
Dr. Molnar was awarded a grant from the
Northeast Sun Grant Initiative Competitive Grants Program
to fund a study to reveal the economic potential of hazelnuts
for oil production. Cornell University is the Northeast
host for the Sun Grant Program, a nationwide alternative
energy initiative.
This spring a small-scale trial of hazelnuts
was planted in Prattsburgh at Laverty’s Feed &
Supply just off Route 53 to obtain some hands on experience
growing hazelnuts locally. If the initial results look
promising, we will continue to evaluate hazelnuts as a
potential high-value crop for our area, and stay current
with its develop as perennial feedstock for biodiesel
production. The beauty of woody perennial crops like hazelnuts
is that once planted they don’t require annual tillage
as compared to other food/energy crops such as soybeans,
meaning they require less energy to produce and can be
grown with almost no risk of soil loss due to erosion.
