Miscanthus

Miscanthus, a C4 grass native to East Asia, is a leading perennial biomass grass in Europe due to its high dry matter yield potential, resource use efficiency, and ability to grow under a wide range of climatic conditions. This chapter provides an overview of the genetic background, breeding, and agronomy of miscanthus. It focuses on the description of the complete miscanthus-based production and value chain from the provision of genetic material through to biomass production and potential uses. The suitability of miscanthus biomass for energetic uses (e.g., combustion, biogas, and liquid fuels), material and chemical uses (e.g., building materials and animal bedding), and food use is discussed. The environmental performance of miscanthus production is also outlined, including aspects of biodiversity, soil restoration, and life cycle assessment. Finally, miscanthus production costs and carbon mitigation are considered.