Bamboo Industry

[Teallaura]

Yeah, I know it sounds like a joke, but there is a town near where I live that is looking at getting a industrial plant which will produce bamboo pulp and possibly energy. They're working on getting local farmers to commit enough land to production (over the next ten years) but if they can get that done, the town gets a new business.
What really caught my attention was the claim that there was a growing European market for bamboo pulp. Er, does anyone know why there's a growing demand in Europe for bamboo pulp? I'm trying to imagine what you would use bamboo pulp for that you couldn't do with wood? Maybe it's a cost/benefit thing?
I'm really curious as to why this is so.

[Dracula Girl]

I had no idea that the bamboo industry existed like that in the United States.

[studyhound]

Yeah, I know it sounds like a joke, but there is a town near where I live that is looking at getting a industrial plant which will produce bamboo pulp and possibly energy. They're working on getting local farmers to commit enough land to production (over the next ten years) but if they can get that done, the town gets a new business.
What really caught my attention was the claim that there was a growing European market for bamboo pulp. Er, does anyone know why there's a growing demand in Europe for bamboo pulp? I'm trying to imagine what you would use bamboo pulp for that you couldn't do with wood? Maybe it's a cost/benefit thing?
I'm really curious as to why this is so.

Heck there is a growing demand here in the US. It is a VERY renewable resource (it can grow up to a foot a day) its cheaper than wood to grow and a can prouduce more in less square footage. It can do almost anything trees can do (save large lumber).

There is much more about it I sure if you googled it you would have plenty of reading.



Edit to correct:
It surges skyward as fast as 1.2 meters in a 24 hour period

Edit to add:
Some species are suitable for soil stabilization, wind break, urban wastewater treatment and reduction of nitrates contamination

Potential to put a brake on the fire (create a fire line) in the traditional forests

[Minnesota]

http://www.rethinkpaper.org/content/fi_bamboo.cfm

http://www.globalhemp.com/Archives/M..._friendly.html

http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~eic/bamboopaper.html

[Ryokan]

Actually, I've found the stuff growing in the wild around here in cincinnati, which is really crazy. I think it probably escaped from the zoo, but still.

Hey, if it works, great.