Sugar beet for instance is only now starting to be produced to feed a newly established sugar extraction industrial unit. A major source for the research funding has come from general programmes where calls for proposals are issued and where energy crops are in competition with other research areas. Research in energy crops by the Portuguese research groups mostly results from participation in European research projects or networks. A major research effort is given on eucalypt forestry, and Portuguese groups have coordinated European projects dealing with different aspects of eucalypt production and use. The EU funding started in 1986 within the Renewable Energies Programme and has continued.
All projects are at research level and at small scale.
Commercial production and use of energy crops is inexistent. However, the ultimate objective has been their use as a pulpwood source. 500 thousand ha. Plantations of poplars has been done at commercial level mainly directed for wood production to feed the match industry. No research has been considered for energy purposes and the soil and water requirements of this tree species do not advice its expansion.