The Contributions of Biomass Supply for Bioenergy in the Post-COVID-19 Recovery

This research investigates how biomass supply chains (BSChs) for bioenergy within the broader bioeconomy could contribute to the post-COVID-19 recovery in three dimensions: boosting economic growth, creating jobs, and building more resilient and cleaner energy systems in four future scenarios, in the short term (by 2023) and long term (by 2030). A SWOT analysis on BSChs was used for generating a questionnaire for foresight by a two-round Delphi study. To interpret the results properly, a short survey and literature review is executed to record BSChs behavior during the pandemic. In total, 23 (55% response rate) and 28 (46% response rate) biomass experts from three continents participated in the Delphi and the short survey, respectively. The strongest impact from investment in BSChs would be on economic growth, followed by a contribution to the resilient and cleaner energy systems and job creation. The effects would be more visible in the long- than in the short-term period. Investments with the most impact on recovery are those that improve biomass material efficiency and circularity. Refurbishment of current policies to enhance the supply of biomass as a renewable resource to the future economy is a must

Erfassung, Bewertung und Minderung von Treibhausgasemissionen des deutschen Agrar- und Ernährungssektors: Studie im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz

In dieser Studie werden Treibhausgasemissionen (THG) aus der deutschen Agrar- und Ernährungswirtschaft analysiert und Möglichkeiten zu ihrer Reduzierung erörtert. Darüber hinaus wird die Eignung von Ökobilanzen für die Bewertung von Produktionsverfahren und Produkten untersucht. In Kapitel 2 werden theoretische Grundlagen für die Umsetzung von Klimaschutzpolitiken erörtert. Als Bilanzierungs- und Analysemethoden werden die Emissionsberichterstattung, die umweltökonomischen Gesamtrechnungen, Ökobilanzen (Life Cycle Assessment) und Carbon Footprints vorgestellt. Es folgt in Kapitel 3 eine Analyse der THG-Emissionen des deutschen Agrar- und Ernährungssektors nach Quellgruppen der Klimaberichterstattung sowie in Bezug auf Produktionsprozesse und erzeugte Agrargüter. Anschließend wird in Kapitel 4 der Stand des Wissens zu kumulierten THG-Emissionen der Ernährungswirtschaft bis hin zum Konsum dargestellt. In Kapitel 5 wird eine Übersicht über mögliche technische und organisatorische Maßnahmen zur Verringerung von THG-Emissionen im Agrarsektor sowie Optionen für das individuelle Verbraucherverhalten gegeben. Erste Hinweise, wie die Politik die Realisierung wirksamer Klimaschutzmaßnahmen unterstützen kann, werden in Kapitel 6 vorgestellt. Als Klimaschutzmaßnahmen im Bereich Landwirtschaft und Landnutzung werden die Verbesserung der Stickstoffausnutzung, die Verwendung von Gülle in Biogasanlagen, die Beschränkung der Umwandlung von Grünland in Ackerland und die Renaturierung von Niedermooren hervorgehoben. Im Bereich Ernährung und Verbraucherverhalten sollte der Wissenstransfer im Mittelpunkt stehen. Produktspezifische Klima-Labels für Lebensmittel werden als ungeeignet angesehen. Bezüglich der Politiken zur Förderung der Bioenergie wird eine Ausrichtung auf Technologien mit den kostengünstigsten Klimaschutzbeiträgen empfohlen. Die Studie schließt mit einem kurzen Ausblick auf die zukünftige Forschungsarbeit des vTI im Bereich Klimaschutz und Ökobilanzierung. -- This study addresses the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) from the German agri-food sector, and options for mitigation. Further, the suitability of eco-balances for valuation of processes and products is explored. Chapter 2 refers to the theoretical basis of climate protection, and, as tools for analysis, GHG accounting, the System of Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounting (SEEA), eco-balances (Life Cycle Analysis) and carbon footprints are presented. In chapter 3, agricultural GHG emissions are analysed by GHG sources, processes and food products, and in chapter 4 the state of knowledge of emissions stemming from food processing, retail and households is portrayed. Chapter 5 introduces to technical and organisational mitigation options in agriculture and regarding consumer decisions. First hints how policy might support GHG mitigation are presented in chapter 6. The study closes with an outlook on future research activities of vTI in the area of climate protection and eco-balancing.Klimawandel,Treibhausgase,Landwirtschaft,Kohlenstoff Fußabdruck,Climate Change,Greenhouse gases,Agriculture,Carbon footprint

Status and prospects for renewable energy using wood pellets from the southeastern United States

The ongoing debate about costs and benefits of wood-pellet based bioenergy production in the southeastern United States (SE USA) requires an understanding of the science and context influencing market decisions associated with its sustainability. Production of pellets has garnered much attention as US exports have grown from negligible amounts in the early 2000s to 4.6 million metric tonnes in 2015. Currently, 98% of these pellet exports are shipped to Europe to displace coal in power plants. We ask, ‘How is the production of wood pellets in the SE USA affecting forest systems and the ecosystem services they provide?’ To address this question, we review current forest conditions and the status of the wood products industry, how pellet production affects ecosystem services and biodiversity, and what methods are in place to monitor changes and protect vulnerable systems. Scientific studies provide evidence that wood pellets in the SE USA are a fraction of total forestry operations and can be produced while maintaining or improving forest ecosystem services. Ecosystem services are protected by the requirement to utilize loggers trained to apply scientifically based best management practices in planning and implementing harvest for the export market. Bioenergy markets supplement incomes to private rural landholders and provide an incentive for forest management practices that simultaneously benefit water quality and wildlife and reduce risk of fire and insect outbreaks. Bioenergy also increases the value of forest land to landowners, thereby decreasing likelihood of conversion to nonforest uses. Monitoring and evaluation are essential to verify that regulations and good practices are achieving goals and to enable timely responses if problems arise. Conducting rigorous research to understand how conditions change in response to management choices requires baseline data, monitoring, and appropriate reference scenarios. Long-term monitoring data on forest conditions should be publicly accessible and utilized to inform adaptive management

Effectiveness and Economic Viability of Forest Certification: A Systematic Review

In the face of accelerating forest degradation and deforestation, forest certification emerged in the early 1990s as a voluntary and market-based mechanism to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests. A key goal of forest certification is to reduce forest degradation and deforestation while enhancing forest enterprises’ economic viability. However, whether forest certification contributes to meeting such goals is unclear. We conducted a systematic literature review on such impacts, reviewing empirical studies published between 1993 and 2021 regarding the impact of forest certification on forest degradation, deforestation, and economic viability. Drawing on 98 empirical studies, we analyzed these impacts and provide an overview of the studies’ findings in terms of geographical distribution, indicators considered, and the certification schemes assessed. We found that the impact of forest certification on deforestation has been specifically understudied (n = 11) compared to forest degradation (n = 42) and economic viability (n = 45). On deforestation, studies have focused on Africa (45%) and South America (36%); on forest degradation, studies have focused on Europe (40%) and Asia (20%); on economic viability, studies have focused on Asia (33%), Europe (33%) and South America (20%). We found positive-neutral (54%; 46%) impacts on deforestation, positive-neutral-mixed (70%; 21%; 9%) impacts on forest degradation and positive-negative-mixed (50%; 33%; 17%) impacts on economic viability. We did not find clear evidence that impact is linked to a specific region or certification scheme. However, scarce evidence on the impacts of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), the application of various methods, and site-specific indicators in the individual studies challenge such comparison and hamper the generalization of findings. This systematic review provides an overview of the state-of-the-art research on the effectiveness and economic viability of forest certification, evaluates and discusses the current evidence base, and concludes with future research lines

Correction: Lippe et al. Estimating Global Forest-Based Employment. <i>Forests</i> 2021, <i>12</i>, 1219

In the original publication [...

Monitoring Sustainability Effects of the Bioeconomy: A Material Flow Based Approach Using the Example of Softwood Lumber and Its Core Product Epal 1 Pallet

The transition of our current economic system towards a bioeconomy that is based on renewable materials and energy can be an important contribution but at the same time a threat to mitigate the challenges of the 21st century, such as global warming and resource depletion. To assess societal, economic, and environmental impacts associated with this transition, we propose an approach for a sustainability assessment as an integral part of a future bioeconomy monitoring concept. The assessment approach is based on material flow analyses of the bioeconomy and their core products. As a proof of applicability, the proposed assessment approach is exemplified for the material flow of softwood lumber and its core product &lsquo;EPAL 1 pallet&rsquo;. To simulate a frequent monitoring, material flow analysis and assessment of six sustainability effects are applied for the years 2010 and 2015. Since a frequent bioeconomy monitoring requires regularly updated and quality assured data, official statistics should be the major source of information. Whereas cutoff thresholds, nondisclosure of data, and high level of aggregation are major limitations of official production statistics and for material flow analysis, lack of information regarding environmental effects is the major limitation for material flow related sustainability assessment. We make suggestions on how to overcome these limitations and put our approach in to context with other ongoing monitoring activities