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Sustainable Bioenergy Cropping System for the Mediterranean. Session 4: Bioenergy in the Mediterranean region: the sustainability component. Social, economical and technical issues. Chair: U. Fritsche, Institute for Appied Ecology Co-chair: J.Domac, EIHP Zagreb.
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Sustainable Bioenergy Cropping System for the Mediterranean Session 4: Bioenergy in the Mediterranean region: the sustainability component. Social, economical and technical issues Chair: U. Fritsche, Institute for Appied Ecology Co-chair: J.Domac, EIHP Zagreb Ministry for Environment, Madrid (9-10 February 2006)
General objectives for the session: • Considerations that sustainable crop mixes will need to have into account: • Environmental considerations (problems of the region) • Yields of the crops • Availability of bioenergy conversion technologies • Transport infrastructures • Development of demand side for different bioenergy products • Regional economic development impacts and employment options
Questions for the discussion: • Quality small scale food production vs. mass production for bioenergy • Acceptance of bioenergy, public perception of biomass • Rural development and agro-tourism • How many jobs are wanted/needed – Is there enough labor force • Logistics and transport infrastructures • Price structures • Bioenergy project financing • Change to perennials • Bundling systems? • Dry biomass vs. wet biomass
Human resources for bioenergy development • Nowadays people in the country side disappear and the only solution are subsidies • Bioenergy crops are labor intensive, therefore there is a intensive need of human resources. No real competition in the demand of human power with the “more attractive agro-tourism business”. Public perception • Rising interest of the general public. • Importance of sending a positive but real message to the farmers: Bioenergy is going to maintain the country side population but probably not to increase it. Not a golden solution
Small system vs budling systems • After 2015 when conversion technologies for lignocellulosic biomass is expected to be competitive and there will be the need of gross production of biomass bundling systems will be the option. • However, small systems may be suitable for small self-sustainable solutions Land use for high quality small scale food production versus bioenergy production • Different markets therefore different opportunities
Market analysis • Important to look at the demand when market analysis is set out • Be aware of the high region dependence of bioenergy • Subsidies: needed meanwhile the technology is developed. • Market liberalization: to create a fair market and option could be establish a global standard for agriculture including environmental limitation.