A very recent study on energy crops in germany (September 2014) was published in BIOMASS & BIOENERGY. A review shows several advantages in perennial bioenergy crops regarding pesticides and suggest they should be promoted further.
Energy crops are being cultivated increasingly in Europe and Germany is probably the most relevant country to start a review on experiences and policy. And this is particularly important if we consider a sustaianbility criteria. In 2008, energy crops were grown on more than 5.5 million ha (approximately 5% of the arable land) in the EU-27, compared to 3.5 million ha in 2005. On most of this land (82%), rapeseed was grown for the production of biodiesel. The remainder was used for the cultivation of annual crops for ethanol (11%) and biogas production (4%), as well as for plantations of perennial crops (2%). The European Academies Science Advisory Council calculated that approximately 21 million ha of arable land would be needed to achieve the EU 10% target for biofuel use in the transport sector.
The article was written by researchers at the following organizations: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, University Koblenz-Landau, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrumand University Leipzig, Institute for Infrastructure and Resources Management.
Energy Crops and pesticides
Development of the cultivation area of energy crops (2012)
Based on the case study of Germany, Europe’s leading country in the cultivation of energy crops, authors examined the potential of energy crops for pesticide contamination.
Authors findings revealed that the growth of energy crops will not necessarily cause an increase or decrease in the amounts of pesticides released into the environment. Due to the great variety of energy crops, the potential effects will depend rather on the future design of the agricultural systems.
“Instead of creating energy monocultures, annual energy crops should be integrated into the existing food production systems. Financial incentives and further education are required to encourage the usage of sustainable crop rotations, innovative cropping systems and the cultivation of perennial energy crops, which may add to crop diversity and generate lower pesticide demands than do intensive food farming systems. In addition, a further extension of the cultivation of energy crops should be accompanied by mandatory restrictions to protect the remaining permanent grassland“.
Beside plantations of perennial energy crops, the concept of agroforestry, i.e., the cultivation of trees in association with annual or perennial herbaceous crops, is coming back into focus as a promising approach to combine food and energy production and. Another currently discussed option is the use of short-rotation coppice as riparian buffer strips to reduce pesticide and nutrient input from adjacent fields and to enhance the landscape diversity and wildlife habitat.
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This is a good article. I think what you try to explain is to switch from common agriculture to agroforestry models in Europe due the multi benefits? (Ecological, social and economic). On the other hand by bio refining common agriculture crops we can rise the value a lot and producing several components. I think these models are the most realistic in countries with large amounts of abandoned fields like: Romania, Spain and maybe East Germany.
But on smaller scale it would be possible to integrate these plantations also for example as an green buffer area of industrial areas. Nowadays we have here lot of not useful green areas in-between urban and industrial areas. These areas could in the future designed to produce biomass and working as a green buffer.
I am fully in support of the complex approach Germany is taking. One key element here is to limit or eliminate at all pesticides. There could be several ways to do that. One option is to select a such energy crop that does not need at all pesticides. There is such plant, the Arundo Donax (Giant Reed). Until recently it was not seriously considered, since the limits in propagating plant lets in industrial size (millions) and quality (identical, homogeneous) at a reasonable price. By now, based on the invention of a biology professor Dr. Laszlo Marton (Professor of Biology, Director of PSMP in Biotechnology, Department of Biological Sciences
USC Columbia, SC 29208) Arundo Cellulose Farming Hungary (www.arundo-donax.com) developed the industrial scale embryo genetic micro propagation of Arundo plant lets. We do have test plantations showing very promising results. In 2013 Arundo was officially accepted in USA to use for the second generation, cellulose based bio ethanol production as a feed stock. There are ongoing project plans to use Arundo in a torrefection in order to provide “green coal” for traditional coal based electricity power stations.
Tim Sheldon forgets that he is sppuose to represent his constituents. It is a fight against corporate welfare. They would destroy our environment and have us pay for it. I think many communities will be embroiled in this same fight. I am so worried that the plant in Mason County will go through even though everyone I know is against it. I can’t believe that our local representatives have sold us out! Good luck Florida