Confronto aziendale della redditività di alcune colture legnose da biomassa rispetto a colture annuali

The paper analyses profits of 2 and 5 years poplar coppices for biomass production (Short Rotation Forestry), compared with maize productions, considering intensive techniques, in a middle-high fertility context of the Po plain. Economic analyses are carried out with a private viewpoint, simulating entrepreneurial choices; they are based on real data. All crops have been assessed using current prizes, including CAP funds and energetic primes for SRF. Prices refer to the end of 2006 - beginning 2007. In term of profitability, poplar SRFs show poor results and are not able to compete with maize. In particular, maize allows interesting profits, even in a very variable market context, where prices have changed between 130 and 160 €•T-1. On the opposite, breakeven point for SRF is obtained with a minimum price of 11 €•Ttq-1 for the 5 years rotations and of 13 for the biennial ones, considering all the above mentioned public primes. Among limiting factors concerning the results and the spreading of SRF, it is necessary to remember that, while maize productive techniques are well-established, SRF techniques are relatively news and even now “in progress”. Furthermore, from the market side, SRF prices are entirely controlled by the demand. Thus, a significant spreading of SRF has taken place only where public primes were higher, like in Lombardy Region, who subsidized plantation, tending costs and missing yields. In conclusion, if currently price will not arise in a significant way, further development of SRF will happen only thanks to new primes, or if agricultural farmers will be able to internalize benefits, like taking advantage of “green certificates” whose effect is now limited to energy production phase.