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6 Plenary Sessions Not to Miss!
Preview by
Dr. David Baxter
Former European Commission JRC, EUBCE Executive Committee Member
Whatever your field, industry, or expertise, you are invited! The conference plenary sessions will feature top experts from biomass, bioenergy and bioeconomy speaking about current issues and trends.
Mark your calendars!
LET’S GET STARTED! TWO SESSIONS HIGLIGHTS
Opening Plenary Session AP.1 Monday 13:45-14:45
Sustainable Biomass Resources for Decarbonising the Economy: Sustainable Biomass Resources with Improved Soils
 Mapping of land use is a common way for monitoring land use, land use change and within the context of EUBCE, mapping is widely used to measure biomass availability.
One of the two plenary presentations in the session looks at how to undertake mapping for the purpose of identifying areas of contaminated land which is in need of cleaning or of stabilisation. Using this mapping approach sites can be selected as being suitable for bioremediation through cultivation of biofuel crops. The method developed further permits types of contaminants to be identified and soil properties determined. Mapping information is used within the GOLD project where biomass production and capture of contaminants are monitored experimentally, thereby allowing phytoremediation potential to be assessed for different scenarios.
The other plenary presentation in this session addresses waste treatment by integration of anaerobic digestion and slow pyrolysis to give multiple products including biomethane, ammonium sulphate and biochar. The biomethane can be used as a fuel and a replacement for natural gas whilst ammonium sulphate can be used as an organic fertiliser and biochar can be used for soil amendment, and most importantly to store carbon in soils. Soil quality, especially with regard to carbon content, has been steadily degraded on agricultural land over many decades and particularly because of increased intensification of agriculture. A number of approaches have been made to reverse steadily decreasing soil quality, however more needs to be done. Use of biochar represents a promising method for adding carbon to the soil while at the same time providing for carbon storage to combat climate change.
Sustainable Impacts and Policies: Socio-Economic Aspects in Circular Economy
Plenary Session BP.1 Tuesday 10:15-11:30
 There will be three oral presentations in the plenary session which focusses on a circular economy.
The first presentation will look at whether existing indicators used to monitor the wider circular economy are adequate to see with any detail the roles and impacts of bio-based products. The study upon which the presentation is based follows on from earlier work that defined nine metrics to assess circularity, which can be expanded to 25 micro-level indicators derived from other reported studies, yet even the additional indicators fail to account for important characteristics of bio-based systems that are renewable, expand on cascading use of biomass and incorporate organic recycling.The need for further development of indicators to identify more accurately bio-based systems will be discussed.
A presentation on the social aspects in the circular economy stresses the essential need to incorporate social-economic aspects along with purely economic and environmental sustainability impacts into any sustainability assessment. Gender is a key aspect of social sustainability. Gender equality and the assessment of social risks are addressed for a number of bioenergy and bioeconomy projects funded by the EU and compared with selected countries in the global south. Similarities and differences will be discussed.
The final presentation in this session focusses on perennial cropping systems and how these can fulfil desired ecosystem services in terms of both products and income opportunities for the farmer/land owner (referred to private goods) and wider public goods including carbon storage, reduction of erosion risk and increased biodiversity. There are however several hurdles and barriers to setting up successful perennial cropping systems, not least policy maker understanding and subsequent lack of policy support, in particular with regard to the benefits to be gained in simultaneously increasing biomass feedstock production, mitigating climate change and countering loss of biodiversity.
For more on this and the other plenaries, have a look at the detailed conference programme.
Join EUBCE 2023 Exclusive Conference Dinner
Join us on Wednesday the 7th of June for the exclusive conference dinner in Palazzo Re Enzo’s ‘Salone del Podestà’.
Just a stone's throw away from Bologna's Piazza Maggiore, Palazzo Re Enzo combines the charm of a historic residence with the versatility of a state-of-the-art facility.
Enjoy delicious food in a relaxed setting while getting to know old colleagues and new connections outside the main conference environment.
Book your ticket as an add-on during registration!
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