Growing the bioeconomy: solutions for the sustainable supply for biomass and biofuels

There is significant potential for biomass to displace fossil fuels, but it is essential that it is produced in ways that are environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. There are an increasing range of innovative approaches and exemplar projects around the world that demonstrate the sustainable production of biomass for energy applications. For example, projects are producing biofuels from nonfood and non-feed biomass, including waste materials.

Furthermore, biomass plays an essential role in providing goods and services indispensable for human activities such as food, feed, fiber, fine chemicals, fertilizer, energy and fuels as well as jobs and incomes especially for rural economy and climate change mitigation options. When biomass conversion for energy purposes is well integrated with other biomass segments through the biorefinery concept or optimal horizontal supply chains, they would form the basis for the nature-based bioeconomy. However, many decision makers are uncertain about the role that biomass can sustainably play in their energy transitions and as a result their plans may be underutilising their potential biomass resources. 

Through an interactive debate, this session first discusses opportunities and challenges to sustainably mobilize untapped biomass resources and harness them for the expanded uptake of bioenergy in transport and industry sectors. Then experts showcase best practices and innovative approaches around the world to maximize the biomass value streams where co-processing and co-production at biorefinery provide multiple solutions for fossil-free economy. The underlying question is how these experiences can be replicated and further expanded at scale in a sustainable fashion to make the significant increase of modern bioenergy deployment reality.

 

Webcast