CAROB TREES could help in the fight against global warming, according to a pioneering study being carried out by the AIDA (Inter-professional association for the production and value of the carob tree).
Preliminary results show the popular Portuguese tree is especially good at absorbing carbon dioxide.
According to Manuel Caetano, vice president of AIDA and director of Danisco (a multinational firm that transforms carob seeds with offices in Faro and headquarters in Denmark), the study is being developed by the Algarve and Évora Universities.
Collaboration is also now being offered by the Ministry of Agriculture.
“Although results are still being fine-tuned and some doubt still exists” says Manuel Caetano, “I can confirm that one hectare of carob trees, about 120, is capable of absorbing around 15 tonnes of CO2 per year.”
There are currently around 50,000 hectares of carob trees in the Algarve but more orchards are to be created.
A concern is that this could lead to over production, which in turn could affect the market.
To combat this problem, there is a strong possibility that a bio-ethanol (bio fuel) plant will be built within five years in the Algarve.
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