Genera Energy Crops LLC 

An energy crop is a crop that is produced solely for the conversion to a source of energy – heat, electricity, chemicals, or liquid fuels. Switchgrass is a good example of a crop being grown in this manner. Other dedicated energy crops include woody crops (short rotation poplars and willow), miscanthus, corn, soybeans and others. Regardless of the crop, the development of significant dedicated energy crop systems requires research and development to produce the needed seed or planting stock as well as to develop improved varieties and new crops. The commercialization of these new developments and expansion of the existing seed industry is a primary focus of Genera Energy Crops.

The current focus of Genera Energy Crops has been the production of switchgrass seed in Tennessee. Seed can be harvested from existing switchgrass fields while still allowing a later biomass harvest from that same field. To begin the development of a switchgrass seed industry in Tennessee, Genera has partnered with a seed company to conduct tests and analysis of seed production. This past fall, a test was conducted on a participating switchgrass producer’s farm. This 26-acre seed harvest was performed to evaluate the potential for viable seed production in Tennessee. The seed harvest went well and we learned a tremendous amount about seed production.

Genera Energy Crops is continuing to work on harvest, logistics, handling, and processing of switchgrass seed as well as other crops under consideration for biomass production. We are dedicated to positioning the state of Tennessee, through its agricultural and forest landowners, as a leader nationwide in the production of seed and planting stock for the emerging bioenergy industry.