Parallel Session 2 – Mobilizing feedstocks and setting up supply chains

Moderator: Heitor Cantarella (IAC, Brazil)

Speakers:

• Mark Brown (USC, Australia): International collaboration driving innovation in sustainable biomass supply – IEA Bioenergy TCP Task on Biomass Supply
• Damon Hartley (INL, USA): The evolution of bioenergy supply chains – The influence of producer adoption on herbaceous supply chains in the United States
• Patricia Osseweijer (DTU, The Netherlands): Inclusive design of context-specific biohubs for sustainable marine biofuels production: An approach guided by Value Sensitive Design (VSD)
• Aluwani Tagwi (University of South Africa, South Africa): Bioenergy potential from livestock residues: A case of small-scale farmers in Limpopo province, South Africa
• Bruna Leuner (BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Germany): Indigenous Bioeconomy and the biomass potential in Brazilian indigenous territories

Speakers (L-to-R): Mark Brown, Damon Hartley, Patricia Osseweijer, Aluwani Tagwi, Bruna Leuner

Selected key messages:

• The necessary significant expansion in the production of bio-based fuels, chemicals and materials requires a substantial increase in the supply of sustainable biomass. Much of the work in biofuels and bioproducts is centered around the development of technology; however, the key to realizing a true bioeconomy will be tied to the ability to source the feedstocks.
• In addition to traditional feedstocks (woody biomass, sugarcane, corn), there is plenty of room for different sorts of residues and different regions of the world. The scale of feedstock sourcing is important, but there is also room for small holding farmers, farmers in developing countries, including indigenous populations.
• It is important to create a framework for defining sustainable biomass potential at the local level. When it comes to removal of agricultural and forest residues, possible impacts on soil management need to be considered. Active and proper management of forests is key to reduce risks and impacts from forest fires, in addition to being a source of feedstock for bioenergy.
• The ability to develop supply chains of any size will depend on the participation of the producers and the ability to overcome the barriers that they perceive. The behavior of economic agents is not always rational. This is especially true in the case of farmers and forest owners, whose choices are affected by various factors. Understanding farmers’ behavior is key to evaluate their willingness to grow dedicated energy crops. Stable biofuel and bioproduct demand can help mitigate some of the barriers perceived by farmers. However, it will be a diversity of markets that will be required to spur the adoption and growth.
• Biomass can enable a fair and inclusive energy transition. Besides technological and techno-economic aspects, it is key to understand how to ensure equality and how to include stakeholders in value chains. Biobased value chains are socio-technical systems where technical components and social arrangements are deeply intertwined.

Key elements to create effective and inclusive value chains (from presentation Osseweijer)