Title:
Production of Selected Industrial Crops to Biofuels - Assessing the Local Environmental Impacts of its Cultivation in Contaminated Soils
Author(s):
Fernando, A.L., Dias, C., Barbosa, B., Costa, J., Papazoglou, E.G., Alexopoulou, E.
Document(s):
Paper
Slide presentation
Abstract:
Dedicated crops represent an important feedstock to decarbonise the energy sector and to meet the no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050, as set by the European Green Deal. However, the greenhouse gas performance of biomass to energy can be negatively impacted by Indirect land use change (ILUC) effects. In fact, the increasing demand for biomass, increases the competition for land, threatening food security. Consequently, cultivation of industrial crops on contaminated land is repeatedly suggested as an approach to minimize land use competition with food crops and land use change controversies. Therefore, the objective of this work was to determine the local and site-specific environmental impacts associated with the cultivation of lignocellulosic crops (miscanthus, switchgrass, biomass sorghum and industrial hemp) in contaminated soils. In the study, crop management options were assessed, namely the use of plant-associated microorganisms and a variety of biostimulants, to optimize the phytoremediation action, amount of fertilizers and pesticides applied, irrigation needs, among others, in different contaminated sites in Europe (Greece, France, Italy, Poland). Using environmental impact assessment (EIA) protocols the effects of the cultivation of those crops in the contaminated soils were addressed towards yields, fertilizers and pesticides related emissions, impact on soil and water resources and biological and landscape diversity. Results from the environmental assessment made indicate that growing these crops do not inflict higher impact to the environment comparing to wheat farming (regarding the studied categories). Globally, sorghum showed the lowest impact score due to its phytoremediation potential. Interestingly is also the fact that the categories that mostly influenced (negatively) the impact score of the industrial crops are related with crop management options. Therefore, a less management intensification, and less inputs will bring benefits. The remaining impacts are site specific dependent, intertwined with crops traits. Therefore, the implementation of bioenergy systems derived from industrial crops cultivation should evaluate also the adequacy between crop and location. Assessing site-specific factors such as the quality of soil and groundwater, and effects on local biodiversity and landscape will give important information that can be uploaded in EIA studies, minimizing the existing gaps and strengthening the outcoming results.
Keywords:
bioenergy, sustainability, environmental impact, lignocellulosic crops, contaminated land
Topic:
Sustainability, Impacts, Policies and Systems Analysis
Subtopic:
Environmental impacts
Event:
33rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
2CO.11.3
Pages:
250 - 256
ISBN:
978-88-89407-25-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/33rdEUBCE2025-2CO.11.3
Price:
FREE
