Opinion – Eduardo Sodré: Gas generated from feces and agricultural waste moves sustainable tractor

After five years of testing, the CNH Industrial group, through New Holland Agriculture, began importing the T6 Methane Power tractor. Its differential lies in the type of fuel used, which can be generated on rural properties.

Produced in England, the vehicle is powered by biomethane, processed from animal waste and agricultural waste. The target audiences are cattle and pig farmers, in addition to sugar cane mills.

The transformation of organic material into gas ready for use in the tractor is done by means of biodigesters. It is a way to reduce fossil fuel consumption – tractors, in general, are powered by diesel – and to take advantage of a material that was previously seen only as a problem.

Brazil is part of the group of countries committed to reducing by 30%, by 2030, methane emissions, which come from landfills, decomposition of organic matter and, mainly, from livestock.

This is an example of a circular economy: what used to be reduced to dung heaps and bagasse is transformed into fuel generated on the farm itself. Biogas can also power generators and provide electricity.

Gustavo Taniguchi, commercial marketing director for New Holland Agriculture in Latin America, says that, depending on the size of the rural property, the extra investment in tractors and in the installation of biodigestors can pay off in a period of between two and four years.

The T6 Methane Power has not yet been priced, but it should cost 35% more than a model of the same capacity. The launch takes place during the Rural Coopavel Show, held next week (7th to 11th) in the city of Cascavel (PR).

According to New Holland, the tractor is capable of operating for about eight hours. Refueling with biomethane is done in a similar way to cars powered by CNG (natural gas vehicular).

The company claims that the T6 Methane operating cycle reduces emissions by 80% when compared to a diesel engine.