Agrienergia e riconversione agricola

1. Agrienergia e riconversione agricola Dr. Piero Venturi Directorate Biotechnologies, Agriculture and Food European Commission, DG Research Ricerca e innovazione per l’agricoltura e per il mondo rurale Bruxelles 7-8 Giugno 2007

2. What is the Knowledge- Based Bio-Economy? The knowledge base: Advances in Life Sciences and Biotechnologiesin convergence with other technologies such as nanotechnologies, chemistry, information technologies.., The Bio- Economy: Includes all industries and economic sectors that produce, manage or otherwise make use of biological resources including bio-waste. The European bio-economy has an approximate market size of over €1.5 trillion, employing more than 22 million people  4 Fs: Food, Fiber, Fuel and Feed * estimated to be 10 % of sales within the chemical industry accounting for €125 million by 2010

3. What are the driving forces behind the Knowledge-Base Bio-Economy? • The global challenges of : • Growing and aging populations • Increased demand for high quality food and sustainable food production • Increased incidence of food-related disorders (cardiovascular, obesity …) • Increase in infectious animal diseases and zoonoses • Limited resources of raw materials and energy • Threat of global warming

4. What is the Knowledge-Base Bio-Economy offering? • Examples of bio-based products • Bio-fuels, • Bio-chemicals and bio- polymers e.g. bio-plastic, bio-solvents, bio-lubricants • Antibiotics , vaccines… • Fibre based materials for construction or for car industry • Pulp and paper …

5. Europe has strengths: Excellent life sciences and biotechnology research base; Strong chemical and enzyme industries; Availability of biological resources… The European Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy and globalisation.

7. Enzyme-producing companies and worldwide production shares in 2001, by country

8. EU-25 biomass production potential Sources: Eurostat (2003) / European Environmental Agency (projections)

9. THE EUROPEAN KNOWLEDGE- BASED BIOECONOMY QUALITY ASSURANCE STRATEGIES TRACEABILITY, CONSUMER SCIENCE STABILITY - BIODEGRADABILITY FUNCTIONALITY (Chirality) SOCIETAL NEEDS Life sciences & biotechnology for sustainable non-food products + processes “Fork to Farm”Food, health and well-being WHITEBIOTECH CLEAN BIOPROCESSES RAW MATERIALS/WASTE ADVANCED FOOD TECHNOLOGIES, FOOD QUALITY DETERMINANTS, NUTRITION PROCESSING GREEN/BLUE BIOTECH OPTIMISED RAW MATERIALS LOW INPUT FARMING - BIODIVERSITY ANIMAL HEALTH - RURAL DEVT. PRODUCTION Sustainable production and management of biological resources from land, forest, and aquatic environments

10. 2002 –The EU launched a Strategy on Life Sciences and Biotechnology including a 30 points action plan. 2007- The European Commission published a Mid Term Review of the Strategy putting forward new actions

11. Actionspromoting research and market development for a Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy Generating knowledgeunder the 7th Framework Programme (2007-2013) from basic research to applied research, research infrastructures, training and specific support to SMEs. Mobilise public and private research funding and reinforce coordination Launching of Joint Technology Initiatives among others on Innovative Medicine. Promote pilot plants to demonstrate the potential of bio-based applications Stimulate lead marketsinitiatives for eco-efficient bio-based products EU actions proposed in the mid term review of the European Strategy on Life Sciences and Biotechnology :

12. Other EU actions promoting the development of a Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy: Foster competitiveness, knowledge transfer and innovation Encourage informed societal debates on the benefits and risk of biotechnology Ensure a sustainable contribution of modern biotechnology to agriculture Improve the implementation of legislation EU actions proposed in the mid term review of the European Strategy on Life Sciences and Biotechnology :

13. BIO4EU study: The impact of biotechnology on primary production and agro-food • Supporting ~18% of the input sectors’ turnover, e.g. - breeding and propagation, - veterinary and food diagnostics, - enzymes for food production • Downstream use of these biotech products indirectly supports ~35% of the sector’s turnover

14. Current applications and forecasts - In 2005 Bio based chemicals represents 7% of the market( $77b in value) – in 2010 is it forecasted the cover 10% ( $125 b in value) - 50,000 tons bio-plastic was produced in 2005 in EU ( 0.1% of the market share) A market share of 1-2% by 2010 and 2-4% by 2020 are projected. - Increase of biofuels in transport to 10 % by 2020 BIO4EU Study: Biotechnology not (yet) widely applied in industrial production, processes, energy and environment

15. New issues arise, e.g. use of human tissues and cells genetic data protection environmental issues animal welfare which require monitoring of modern biotechnology development and applications in the future Modern biotechnology also raises concerns

16. Utilized agricultural area (EU-25, 1.000 ha) Total UAA EU-25: • 164,5 million ha • 50% of territory

17. Share of arable land and permanent crops (EU-27)

18. Energy from agriculture: current land use ► Energy crops : about 3% of the EU-25 arable area

19. Policy papers and legislation adopted White Paper on renewable energies - 1997 Green Paper on security of energy supply – 2000 Directive on electricity from renewable sources - 2001 Biofuels Directive – 2003 Energy taxation Directive – 2003 Biomass Action Plan – 2005 Biofuels Strategy – 2006 Renewable Energy Roadmap – end 2006 Strategic EU Energy review – March 2007 Policy framework for renewable energy

20. Part of integrated climate and energy policy Renewable energy: a binding target of 20% share in the overall EU energy consumption by 2020 Biofuels: a binding minimum target of 10% of all road transport fuels by 2020 New EU legislation on the use of renewable energy in heating and cooling National Action Plans on how to achieve the targets Energy mix to be decided by the Member States Renewable Energy Roadmap January / March 2007

21. Renewable energy: current use and targets _________________________________________________ 2006 2010 target 2020 target _________________________________________________ All renewables: 7% 12% 20% Biofuels: 1% 5.75% 10% Green electricity: 15% 21% (no sectoral Heating/ cooling: 9% none target) _________________________________________________

22. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions Diversify supply sources for energy New agricultural market outlets and employment opportunities in rural areas Technology and innovation: impact on the overall economy Reasons for promotingrenewable energy

23. How to get there?

24. Why a separate target for biofuels? they cost more than fossil transport fuels, but in the medium term they are the only way to reduce oil dependence in transport Signals for the future: Car makers need a signal to build for high biofuel blends; industry needs a signal to invest in second generation; the oil market needs a signal that we are serious about alternatives Biofuel target

25. New framework directive on the promotion of renewable energy in 2007: All 3 sectors: electricity,transport, heating and cooling Heating and cooling: removing barriers Biofuels: binding 10% target A system for ensuring the sustainability of biofuels Differentiated national overall targets for renewable energy Renewable Directive 2007

26. EU innovationstrategy: translating investments in research and knowledge into products and services Mandate by the High-level Group of Commissioners on Competitiveness Objective: to facilitate the creation and marketing of new innovative products and services in promising areas Emerging “Lead markets” with a prospect for high growth have been identified: E-health Technical textiles (clothing, equipment) Recycling technologies, Sustainable construction materials Bio-based products Lead Markets

27. Lead Markets: next steps • Report with recommendations and roadmap with policy measures: by end May 2007 • Possible conclusions: • Strategic and integrated approach towards the market for bio-based products: from renewable raw materials to final bio-products • Mix of policy measures: industry’s own voluntary schemes, legislation, standards, labeling, public procurement, agricultural support to feedstocks • The very diverse range of products makes it difficult to identify effective measures • Broad stakeholder consultation: European Technology Platforms, associations, farm unions • Commission Communication by end 2007

28. Decoupled income support Production decisions based on market signals Set-aside obligation Possibility to grow non-food crops Energy crops premieum (45 €/ha) Possibility for state aid for multi-annual crops (50% of establishment costs) Rural development Menu of measures supporting investments, environmental objectives and diversification of rural economies CAP support mechanisms to non-food crops

29. The system should: Discourage GHG-intensive production and conversion of high biodiversity land Encourage second generation biofuels Avoid discrimination between EU production and imports Not act as a barrier to trade Not favour one kind of biofuel or crop PUBLIC CONSULTATION CURRENTLY OPEN (deadline 4 June 2007): http://ec.europa.eu/energy/res/consultation/biofuels_en.htm Biofuels: system for ensuring sustainability

30. Scenario with 30% of second generation in 2020: EU production UE: 80%; import: 20% Cereal prices: increase 3 to 6% Oilseeds prices: increase 8-15% Rapeseed meal: decrease 40% About 15% of EU-27 arable land Impact on EU agricultureof the 10% biofuel target (1)

31. Slower decline of agricultural employment until 2020 Less land abandonment in marginal regions Less conversion of agricultural land to other uses Positive impact on farm income Impact on EU agricultureof the 10% biofuel target (2)

32. FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH: DEVELOPING THE KBBE BIOMASS DEVELOPMENT & PRODUCTION FISHERIES & AQUACULTURE MICROBIAL PRODUCTION FORESTRY BIO-WASTE AGRICULTURE Productembedded knowledge optimized biomass BIOMASS PROCESSING STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK FOOD & FEED TECHNOLOGIES PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES BIOTECHNOLOGY BIOCATALYSIS FOOD FOOD PRODUCTS GREEN CHEMICALS FEED BIOFUELS BIOMATERIALS KNOWLEDGE BIOECONOMY KNOWLEDGE EMPLOYMENT PRODUCTS CHOICE SUSTAINABILITY

33. The resistance of plant cell walls to breakdown is a massive bottleneck for the development of second generation biorefineries. Need to understand the complexity of plant cell walls and ways in which sugars can be more efficiently released from the walls (saccharification) Need to develop molecular and analytical tools to characterise the diverse range of biomass feedstocks. Improve research into cell wall pre-treatment Plant cell walls flagship outputs

34. not all plant materials have the same walls annual plant (e.g. vegetable) grass (e.g. Corn) Cellulose Hemicelluloses Pectin Phenolics (Lignin) Proteins wood (e.g. Poplar) switchgrass cotton fibre Disadvantage: Biorefining process has to be optimized for each material Brett and Waldron 1996, Mellerowicz 2001, Zablackis 1996

35. Experts identified a lubricant product developed in the non-food oilcrop Crambe abyssinica Crambe has been chosen as the candidate crop platform for industrial production of wax esters because its oil is not suitable for use in food applications. it is recommended a gene discovery programme to identify the relevant enzymes for production of the relevant wax esters Collaboration with the US on alternative crops such as soybean could benefit from information exchanged by research programmes on European oilcrops such as Crambe. Oil crops flagship outputs

36. development of new natural sources of rubber to replace and contribute to the supply of rubber for high value (medical uses) as well as high volume products (vehicle tyres) analysis shows that the shrub guayule has greatest potential. Currently, the existing processing technology and industrial expertise for the delivery of guayule latex and guayule dry rubber is based solely in the US. Biopolymers flagship outputs

37. 2. Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology 2.1. Sustainable production and management of biological resources from land, forest, and aquatic environments 2.2. “Fork to farm”: Food, health and well being 2.3. Life sciences and biotechnology for sustainable non-food products and processes

38. Activity 3: Life sciences and biotechnology for sustainable non-food products and processes Area 2.3.1: Improved biomass and plant based renewables Area 2.3.2: Bioprocesses Area 2.3.3: Environmental biotechnologies; Use of waste and by-products

39. PLANT CELL WALLS ENERGY PLANTS FOREST PRODUCTS GREEN OIL FUTURE CROPS GREENFACTORY BIO-VET-PHARMING BIOPOLYMERS BIOMASS SUPPLY AND IMPACT Activity 3: Life sciences and biotechnology for sustainable non-food products and processes Area 2.3.1: Improved biomass and plant based renewables

40. ENZYMES LIGNOCELLULOSIC LIPID DESIGNER ENZYMES NOVEL ENZYMES MICROBES MICROBIAL STRESS IMPROVED MICROBES BIOREFINERY BIO- INFORMATICS BIOETHANOL Activity 3: Life sciences and biotechnology for sustainable non-food products and processes Area 2.3.2: Bioprocesses

41. Activity 3: Life sciences and biotechnology for sustainable non-food products and processes Area 2.3.3: Environmental biotechnologies: Use of waste and by-products IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT IMPROVED MICROBES SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY ADDED VALUE PRODUCTS ENERGY PRODUCTION EXPLORING MOLECULAR MICROBIAL DIVERSITY ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS USEFUL WASTE KNOWLEDGE FUTURE APPLICATIONS

42. Activity 1 The expression and accumulation of valuable industrial compounds in plants Activity 2 Novel enzymes and microorganisms for biomass conversion to bioethanol The search of novel enzymes and microorganisms for different bioprocesses Microbial genomics and bio-informatics Biotechnology for the conversion of biomass and waste into value-added products Activity 3 Novel biotechnology approaches for utilizing wastes, including aquaculture wastes, to make high added value products Exploring molecular microbial diversity in aquatic environment or the soil Call FP7-KBBE- 2007-2A(pubblication: 8th may 2007, deadline 1° Stage: 11th Septemper 2007, deadline 2° Stage: 31st January 2008)

43. Thank you for your attention