Non-food crop
The term non-food crop applies to the use of agricultural crops for uses other than human (as food) or animal consumption (as feed).
The range of crops with non-food uses is broad, but includes traditional arable crops like wheat, as well as less conventional crops like hemp and Miscanthus.
Products made from non-food crops can be categorised by function:
| Function: | Products: | Examples of crops used: |
|---|---|---|
| Biofuels and bioenergy (energy crops) | Bioethanol, biobutanol, biodiesel, syngas and bioenergy | Algae, Buchloe dactyloides, Jatropha and Switchgrass |
| Building and construction | Hemp-lime building materials, Straw building materials, Insulation, Paints, varnishes | hemp, wheat, linseed (flax), bamboo |
| Fiber | Paper, cloth, fabric, padding, string, twine, and rope | coir, cotton, flax, hemp, manila hemp, papyrus, sisal |
| Pharmaceuticals (traditional) and therapeutic proteins (novel) | Drugs, botanical and herbal medicines, nutritional supplements, plant-made pharmaceuticals | Borage, Cannabis sativa, Echinacea, Artemisia, Tobacco |
| Renewable biopolymers | Plastics and packaging | Wheat, maize, potatoes |
| Speciality chemicals | Essential oils, printing ink, paper coatings | Lavender, oilseed rape, linseed, hemp |
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