The Cereals event took place this week. Amongst the machinery on display was proof that the agricultural engineering industry is truly at the forefront of environmental technology innovation.

Visitors to the event got the opportunity have a first look at New Holland’s second generation T6.180 Methane Power tractor which was on show for the first time in the UK, having been previously unveiled at Agritechnica.

New Holland proudly boast that they have a long history of "researching and promoting the role of agricultural mechanisation within a sustainable future for agriculture, through precision farming, equipment supporting conservation agriculture, training in sustainable farming practices, and alternative energy sources." Phew! Quite a mouthful, but a very admirable philosophy.

The company conveyed this message of sustainability to the visitors at this year's show by demonstrating the progress of development of its methane powered tractor prototype.

James Ashworth, Marketing Manager for New Holland Agriculture UK and ROI said, “We’re delighted to bring our Methane Power tractor to the UK and give British and Irish farmers the opportunity to see it for the first time.

“This second generation prototype marks an important stage in achieving New Holland’s goal of energy independent farming. Biomethane, as a renewable source of energy, is an exciting prospect for powering tomorrow’s agricultural machinery.”

A very exciting prospect indeed. And one which will become more and more vital as demand for food production increases, at the same time as demand for finding less environmentally damaging methods of carrying out this production also increases.

The second generation prototype which was on show is based on a New Holland T6.180 standard tractor and features a 175hp Nef 6 engine. It features nine gas cylinders that have a total capacity of 300 litres compressed methane, which is apparently sufficient for approximately half a day of normal tractor operations.

The company say in terms of environmental performance, the new machine has 80% less polluting emissions than a standard diesel tractor and is already capable of fulfilling future greenhouse gas targets, which are expected to require a 20% reduction in emissions across Europe by 2020.

CO2 emissions can be further reduced by using biomethane, (methane derived from biomass). The switch from methane to biomethane can be made without changes to the tractor or the fuel distribution network, which the company say is great news for overall greenhouse gas reduction targets. When powered by biomethane, the tractor’s carbon impact is virtually zero.

Farms with their own anaerobic digestion plants and the ability to grow their own biomass can benefit from a further reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and they claim fuel costs could be cut by as much as 40%.

So it seems like this is a really exciting development which could have significant positive effects should the technology really take off. The industry should feel rightly very proud that such pioneering work is being achieved within it.