Agro-forestry & Agro-forestry & crop combination crop combination optionsoptionsDr Calliope PanoutsouDr Calliope PanoutsouBiomass DepartmentBiomass DepartmentCRESCRES

ContentsContents AimAim SStrengths, trengths, WWeaknesses, eaknesses, OOpportunities & pportunities &

TThreatshreats Biomass resources available in south EUBiomass resources available in south EU

Agro- biomassAgro- biomass Forest biomassForest biomass

Current RTD projectsCurrent RTD projects Future optionsFuture options Future RTD needsFuture RTD needs ChallengesChallenges Recommendations- ConclusionsRecommendations- Conclusions

Apr 22, 2023Apr 22, 2023

AimAim Collecting information on Collecting information on

experiences gained with and experiences gained with and possibilities for dedicated bioenergy possibilities for dedicated bioenergy crop combinations as well as crop combinations as well as

agro-forestry options which promise agro-forestry options which promise to combine high yields with to combine high yields with relatively low environmental relatively low environmental impacts.impacts.

StrengthsStrengths Climate favors several resource optionsClimate favors several resource options Residual resources with low moistureResidual resources with low moisture Energy crops with high yielding potentialEnergy crops with high yielding potential Energy crops can be complementary to Energy crops can be complementary to

current activities in time and resources current activities in time and resources (human & machinery)(human & machinery)

Uncertain policy framework (new CAP) leads Uncertain policy framework (new CAP) leads farmers to seek new cropping optionsfarmers to seek new cropping options

Political pressure on RES & bioenergy Political pressure on RES & bioenergy (Biomass Action Plan)(Biomass Action Plan)

Emissions & Biofuels Directives (2003/87/EC, Emissions & Biofuels Directives (2003/87/EC, 2003/30/EC) could be a means for high 2003/30/EC) could be a means for high biomass demandbiomass demand

Apr 22, 2023Apr 22, 2023

WeaknessesWeaknesses Semi-arid conditions require irrigationSemi-arid conditions require irrigation Landscape associated risks (erosion, water Landscape associated risks (erosion, water

runoff, desertification levels) runoff, desertification levels) Small farming size compared with central, Small farming size compared with central,

northern EU member statesnorthern EU member states Lack of “fully” mechanized agricultureLack of “fully” mechanized agriculture RTD fragmented, reflecting great diversity RTD fragmented, reflecting great diversity

of crops, supply routes and end uses.of crops, supply routes and end uses. Difficult forest management, fire risks, lack Difficult forest management, fire risks, lack

of road infrastructure, etc.of road infrastructure, etc. Need to evaluate the whole chain; an Need to evaluate the whole chain; an

integrated approach to deliver quality, integrated approach to deliver quality, availability and cost targets and achieve availability and cost targets and achieve competitiveness.competitiveness.

Apr 22, 2023Apr 22, 2023

OpportunitiesOpportunities Identify dedicated low impact high yielding Identify dedicated low impact high yielding

cropping systems suitable for med regionscropping systems suitable for med regions Create supply chains combining residual forms and Create supply chains combining residual forms and

energy crops.energy crops. Establish fuel supply chains which will act as links Establish fuel supply chains which will act as links

among biomass producers & usersamong biomass producers & users Evaluate resource options both for industrial & Evaluate resource options both for industrial &

with waste fractions (e.g. energy properties with waste fractions (e.g. energy properties (biorefinery supplies)(biorefinery supplies)

Combine agro- forestry biomass with waste Combine agro- forestry biomass with waste streams (demolition wood, packaging paper, etc.) streams (demolition wood, packaging paper, etc.)

Create communication channels & synergies with Create communication channels & synergies with the farming & forestry communitythe farming & forestry community

Apr 22, 2023Apr 22, 2023

ThreatsThreats Traditional “food” agriculture systems not Traditional “food” agriculture systems not

aware of energy- industry marketsaware of energy- industry markets Variety of feedstocks with different Variety of feedstocks with different

physical- chemical propertiesphysical- chemical properties Lack of specified agricultural machinery for Lack of specified agricultural machinery for

certain energy cropscertain energy crops Low knowledge levels in the farming & Low knowledge levels in the farming &

forestry communitiesforestry communities Complexity of issues & associated groups Complexity of issues & associated groups

involved require prior to start- up planning involved require prior to start- up planning and strong day-to-day coordinationand strong day-to-day coordination

Biomass energy in south Biomass energy in south EUEU High growth rate in wind energy but High growth rate in wind energy but

slow expansion of biomass singled out slow expansion of biomass singled out as key reason for failure to reach as key reason for failure to reach targets.targets.

Modest progress in southern countries.Modest progress in southern countries. Limited data for energy crops: RTD Limited data for energy crops: RTD

small scale fields cannot give answers small scale fields cannot give answers for commercial scale upfor commercial scale up

Lack of forest management practices Lack of forest management practices dedicated to energy in most south dedicated to energy in most south statesstates

Apr 22, 2023Apr 22, 2023

Agro-biomass potentialAgro-biomass potentialLand use (Mha)Land use (Mha)

0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 16.0 18.0 20.0

Small Grain Cereals

Maize

Sugarbeet

Sunflower

Grapes

Fruit Trees

Olives

Harvested area (Mha) 2004

Apr 22, 2023Apr 22, 2023

Agro-biomass potentialAgro-biomass potentialDry biomass (Mt/y)Dry biomass (Mt/y)

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0

Straw

Maize steam & stalk

Sunflower steams

Grape prunnings

Fruit Tree prunnings

Olive pit & prunnings

Apr 22, 2023Apr 22, 2023

Agro- biomass potentialAgro- biomass potentialDry biomass (%)Dry biomass (%)

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

  Cyprus

  France

  Greece

  Italy

  Malta

  Portugal

  Slovenia

  Spain

StrawMaize steam & stalkSunfl ower steamsGrape prunningsFruit Tree prunningsOlive pit & prunnings

Apr 22, 2023Apr 22, 2023

Agro- biomass potentialAgro- biomass potentialBiomass production (t)Biomass production (t)

0

5,000,000

10,000,000

15,000,000

20,000,000

25,000,000

30,000,000

tonn

es

  Cyprus   France   Greece   Italy   Malta   Portugal   Slovenia   Spain

Olive pit & prunningsFruit Tree prunningsGrape prunningsSunflower steamsMaize steam & stalkStraw

Apr 22, 2023Apr 22, 2023

Forests EU 25: Land Forests EU 25: Land covercover(2000)(2000)

020406080

100120140160180

Total land area Wooded area Forest land

mill

ion

ha

EU North EU centreEU south

Apr 22, 2023Apr 22, 2023

Annual increment, Annual increment, fellings (2000)fellings (2000)

050

100150200250300350

EU North EU centre EU south

mill

ion

m3

Annual netincrement

Fellings

Growing stock(Million m3) EU N: 6,420 EU C: 10,546 EU S: 2,767

Current RTD projectsCurrent RTD projects ENK6 CT2001 00524: Bioenergy chains for south ENK6 CT2001 00524: Bioenergy chains for south

EuropeEurope Four perennial grasses: giant reed, cynara, Four perennial grasses: giant reed, cynara,

switcgrass, miscanthusswitcgrass, miscanthus Three thermochemical processes: combustion, Three thermochemical processes: combustion,

gasification, pyrolysisgasification, pyrolysis Whole chain economics & environmental Whole chain economics & environmental

assessmentsassessments Harvest window ensuring year round supply Harvest window ensuring year round supply Good time allocation of resourcesGood time allocation of resources Crops are complementary to current agricultural Crops are complementary to current agricultural

activitiesactivities

Apr 22, 2023Apr 22, 2023

Current RTD projectsCurrent RTD projects Cynara cardunculus: BIOCARD 6FPCynara cardunculus: BIOCARD 6FP

Perennial crop suitable to med conditionsPerennial crop suitable to med conditions

Can be rainfed Can be rainfed

Wide range of products from biodiesel, heat Wide range of products from biodiesel, heat & electricity& electricity

Good potential for biorefinery feedstock… Good potential for biorefinery feedstock…

Apr 22, 2023Apr 22, 2023

Future RTD needsFuture RTD needs Establish competitive supply chains to Establish competitive supply chains to

meet market requirements.meet market requirements.

Optimise bioenergy systems, Optimise bioenergy systems, matching production options through matching production options through to conversion requirements.to conversion requirements.

Improve know-how for stages between Improve know-how for stages between production and conversion.production and conversion.

Resource productionResource productionYield & CharacteristicsYield & Characteristics Sustained high yields over long term Sustained high yields over long term

under commercial (not research) under commercial (not research) conditionsconditions

Multi-cropping of selected perennial crops Multi-cropping of selected perennial crops for energyfor energy

Optimise forest management systems also Optimise forest management systems also for energy for energy

Agronomy to influence biomass qualityAgronomy to influence biomass quality Combined approaches of residual biomass Combined approaches of residual biomass

& energy crops examined at pre-& energy crops examined at pre-commercial chainscommercial chains

DDetermine production systemetermine production systems that best s that best integrate with chain including conversion integrate with chain including conversion requirements. requirements.

Harvesting & CollectionHarvesting & CollectionEffectiveness & SpeedEffectiveness & Speed Test existing machineryTest existing machinery Develop and test new machines and Develop and test new machines and

componentscomponents Low contamination harvesting methodsLow contamination harvesting methods Harvesting and collection must be Harvesting and collection must be

effective and high speed, deliver effective and high speed, deliver feedstock in optimal state, and feedstock in optimal state, and minimize site impactsminimize site impacts

Storage & TransportStorage & TransportReliability & QualityReliability & Quality Minimization of risks: fire, health. Minimization of risks: fire, health. Ensure quality: feedstock physical Ensure quality: feedstock physical

specificationsspecifications Optimise technology for chips / bales / Optimise technology for chips / bales /

pelletspellets Assess different logistic structures, such as Assess different logistic structures, such as

centralized fuel depots.centralized fuel depots.

System integration System integration System sustainability – energy and System sustainability – energy and

emissions balance over life cycle of chainemissions balance over life cycle of chain System costs – vertical integration or each System costs – vertical integration or each

step as profit centre?step as profit centre? Stakeholders consultation – agro-industry, Stakeholders consultation – agro-industry,

hauliers, energy industry, local hauliers, energy industry, local communities.communities.

Emergence of international trade of Emergence of international trade of standardised biomass fuels – impacts?standardised biomass fuels – impacts?

Minimization of risk throughout the chain Minimization of risk throughout the chain and demonstrating schemes can be and demonstrating schemes can be financed.financed.

Apr 22, 2023Apr 22, 2023

ChallengesChallenges Supply the industry with secure raw materialSupply the industry with secure raw material

Efficient land use by the use of whole- crop solutions Efficient land use by the use of whole- crop solutions as well as exploiting both fertile and marginal land.as well as exploiting both fertile and marginal land.

Ensure that both primary production and residues will Ensure that both primary production and residues will be evaluated for their energy potentialbe evaluated for their energy potential

Sustainability in biomass production- handling Sustainability in biomass production- handling Improve the acceptability of biomass filiere by Improve the acceptability of biomass filiere by

strengthening the communication channels strengthening the communication channels among the relevant stakeholders, especially the among the relevant stakeholders, especially the farming- forestry sectors with the respective fuel farming- forestry sectors with the respective fuel and energy sectors.and energy sectors.

Local biomass production & international biomass Local biomass production & international biomass tradetrade

Apr 22, 2023Apr 22, 2023

Future optionsFuture options Perennial crops, like cynara, giant reed, Perennial crops, like cynara, giant reed,

miscanthus and SRC like eycalypts, robiniamiscanthus and SRC like eycalypts, robinia Annual crops possibilities for double Annual crops possibilities for double

cropping like in Germanycropping like in Germany Green crop harvesting for AD-biogas and a Green crop harvesting for AD-biogas and a

second crop option for bioenergy – second crop option for bioenergy – biofuels??biofuels??

Integrate energy crops within the current Integrate energy crops within the current crop patterns as complementary activitiescrop patterns as complementary activities

Ensure harvest window with crop selectionEnsure harvest window with crop selection Integrate forest & agricultural activities to Integrate forest & agricultural activities to

ensure supplyensure supply

Apr 22, 2023Apr 22, 2023

RecommendationsRecommendations Integrated waste management strategiesIntegrated waste management strategies

Introduce efficient land use strategies, Introduce efficient land use strategies, complementary to current systems and complementary to current systems and regional characteristicsregional characteristics

Sustainable forest residual harvest for Sustainable forest residual harvest for energy prevents fire risks. “energy prevents fire risks. “Make sure Make sure the message is clear enough!!the message is clear enough!!””

Conclusions- Next StepsConclusions- Next Steps

To be completed with your To be completed with your valuable input!!valuable input!!

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention