Perennial biomass cropping and use: shaping the policy ecosystem in European countries

Clifton-Brown, John, Hastings, Astley, von Cossel, Moritz, Murphy-Bokern, Donal, McCalmont, Jon, Whittaker, Jeanette, Alexopoulou, Efi, Amaducci, Stefano, Andronic, Larisa, Ashman, Christopher, Awty-Carroll, Danny, Bhatia, Rakesh, Breuer, Lutz, Cosentino, Salvatore, Cracroft-Eley, William, Donnison, Iain, Elbersen, Berien, Ferrarini, Andrea, Ford, Judith, Greef, Jörg, Ingram, Julie ORCID: 0000-0003-0712-4789, Lewandowski, Iris, Magenau, Elena, Mos, Michal, Petrick, Martin, Pogrzeba, Marta, Robson, Paul, L. Rowe, Rebecca, Anatolii, Sandu, Schwarz, Kai-Uwe, Scordia, Danilo, Scurlock, Jonathan, Shepherd, Anita, Thorton, Judith, M. Trindade, Luisa, Vetter, Sylvia, Wagner, Moritz, Wu, Pei-Chen, Yamada, Toshihiko and Kisel, Andreas (2023) Perennial biomass cropping and use: shaping the policy ecosystem in European countries. GCB-Bioenergy, 15 (5). pp. 538-558. doi:10.1111/gcbb.13038

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Abstract

Demand for sustainably produced biomass is expected to increase with the need to provide renewable commodities, improve resource security, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with COP26 commitments. Studies have demonstrated additional environmental benefits of using perennial biomass crops (PBCs), when produced appropriately, as a feedstock for the growing bioeconomy, including utilisation for bioenergy (with or without carbon capture and storage). PBCs can potentially contribute to Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) (2023-27) objectives provided they are carefully integrated into farming systems and landscapes. Despite significant research and development (R&D) investment over decades in herbaceous and coppiced woody PBCs, deployment has largely stagnated due to social, economic and policy uncertainties. This paper identifies the challenges in creating policies that are acceptable to all actors. Development will need to be informed by measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) of greenhouse gas emissions reductions and other environmental, economic and social metrics. It discusses interlinked issues that must be considered in the expansion of PBC production: i) available land; ii) yield potential; iii) integration into farming systems; iv) R&D requirements; v) utilisation options; and vi) market systems and the socio-economic environment. It makes policy recommendations that would enable greater PBC deployment: 1) incentivise farmers and land managers through specific policy measures, including carbon pricing, to allocate their less productive and less profitable land for uses which deliver demonstrable greenhouse gas reductions; 2) enable GHG mitigation markets to develop and offer secure contracts for commercial developers of verifiable low carbon bioenergy and bio-products; 3) support innovation in biomass utilisation value chains; and 4) continue long-term, strategic R&D and education for positive environmental, economic and social sustainability impacts.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Biomass; Renewable energy; Perennial biomass crops; PBCs; Common Agricultural Policy
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) S Agriculture > SB Plant culture
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > Countryside and Community Research Institute
Research Priority Areas:	Place, Environment and Community
Depositing User:	Bee Ray-Smallcalder
Date Deposited:	03 Mar 2023 16:27
Last Modified:	09 Oct 2023 11:29
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/12431

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