The global energy challenge: second-generation feedstocks on marginal lands for a sustainable biofuel production

Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Jan. 17, 2025

As the global population continues to grow, so does demand for energy resources. a consequence, using renewable sources as an alternative fossil fuels has become mandatory reduce environmental footprint of sector. Biofuels represent source energy, but their production raised concerns regarding possible impacts on food security. Indeed, current biofuel primarily relies crops and arable lands. That is in conflict with need produce more increasing world population. To overcome this incongruence, it proposed cultivate second-generation marginal lands, since option could bring benefits terms security sustainability. Based scientific literature, we addressed following critical points: (i) whether land worldwide can be considered reasonable lands production; (ii) evaluate sustainability respect unintended negative consequences crop cultivation such indirect use change, social insecurity loss biodiversity. It was concluded that amount growing plants possibly sustain both if are included. In context, becomes priority select high productivity pronounced resilience adaptability traits. Underutilized Carthamus tinctorius, Ricinus communis, Brassica carinata, Camelina sativa etc. may fit purpose valuable first-generation feedstock because they require minimal agronomical input. Using underutilized also provide important ecological services, including improving soil fertility water regulation, biodiversity reducing erosion. fully exploit option, will calibrate plant growth models estimate potential from create tools rational management land.

Language: Английский

---

Quantifying the Performance of European Agriculture Through the New European Sustainability Model

Agriculture, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(2), P. 210 - 210

Published: Jan. 18, 2025

The study aims to assess the performance of European sustainable agriculture through a new model agricultural sustainability, addressing significant gap identified in literature: lack systematic framework integrating economic, environmental, and resource efficiency dimensions use context EU Common Agricultural Policy Green Deal. research develops four synthetic indicators: ISPAS (Index Sustainable Productivity), IREA Reduced Emissions from Agriculture), ISAC Combined Sustainability), IESA Land Area Efficiency), each reflecting complementary aspects performance. methodology is based on an econometric linear dynamic Arellano–Bond model, which allows analysis temporal relationships between indicators sustainability performance, capturing inertia effects structural dynamics sector. modeling provides robust approach capture interdependencies emission reductions, mainstreaming, land efficiency. results indicate superior quality measurement by applying this integrated framework, highlighting integration economic environmental dimensions, optimization use. also valuable policy implications, suggesting concrete directions for adapting policies particularities Member States. By methodological innovative indicators, contributes thorough understanding practical tool underpinning Union.

Language: Английский

---

Enhancing Economic and Environmental Sustainability in Lignocellulosic Bioethanol Production: Key Factors, Innovative Technologies, Policy Frameworks, and Social Considerations

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(2), P. 499 - 499

Published: Jan. 10, 2025

Lignocellulosic bioethanol is a promising renewable energy source that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve security. However, its commercialization faces significant economic environmental challenges, including high feedstock costs, complex pretreatment processes, expensive enzyme formulations, substantial water requirements. This review examines the key factors affecting viability, efficiency, co-product generation, emissions, use, land use impacts. Recent advancements in technologies, recycling, genetically engineered microbial strains, fermentation strategies are discussed for their potential to process efficiency production costs. also explores valorization, lignin biogas utilization, which enhance sustainability of by generating additional revenue streams, offsetting operational improving overall efficiency. Identifying research gaps, it highlights need cost-effective supply chains, advanced optimized methods. Additionally, role life cycle assessments government policies, subsidies, considered shaping costs impact. By integrating perspectives, this provides insights into advancing sustainable lignocellulosic bioethanol, emphasizing importance continued innovation overcome existing challenges.

Language: Английский

---

Sustainability Potential of Marginal Areas for Food, Feed, and Non-Food Production in the Puglia Region, Southern Italy: Part II: A Review

Agronomy, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(3), P. 472 - 472

Published: Feb. 27, 2024

There is considerable unused and unproductive land in rural areas of the Puglia region, Southern Italy. These their local cultivators/growers have always been overlooked by academic, policy, investment circles despite potential to improve food security livelihood communities. Therefore, it crucial evaluate sustainability these produce food, feed, non-food products. This evaluation will play a vital role sustainable development regions such as region. In this review, we highlighted important aspects regarding management expected contribution that various types marginal (MAs) could add regional economy Puglia. The authors focused on extent which Puglia’s lands can realistically be utilized meet Italy’s production targets, considering economic, social, environmental different area within territories. writing inspired lack sufficient information necessary carry out plan for revitalization MAs areas. Although Italian scholars not extensively researched MAs, available data suggest they significantly contribute security, complexity low-input nature. scientific evidence suggests main challenge associated with using and/or balancing biodiversity conservation residents’ social economic development. Presently, some small-scale or family farms are already operating MAs. However, still minimally overall agricultural even though an numerous communities Furthermore, indicate over 40% existing farmers require greater support sustain activities. Such should tailored context, built and, where appropriate, improved upon practices, while addressing threats regard, policies shape MAs’ landscapes through initiatives aimed at recovery traditional activities, use varieties, protection environment, biodiversity. believe review provides policymakers recommendations consider when supporting source people living

Language: Английский

---

The interactions between nematode and microbial communities offer significant insights into the impact of organic amendments on the productivity of Miscanthus × giganteus cultivated on marginal lands

Biosystems Diversity, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 33(1), P. e2508 - e2508

Published: Feb. 14, 2025

The investigation is devoted to the analysis of impact organic fertilisers, in particular biochar derived from sewage sludge, on productivity energy crop Miscanthus × giganteus and soil health marginal lands. results long-term observations show that among additives, demonstrates most pronounced stabilising effect structure nematode community, although its total number nematodes limited. application increased diversity trophic groups modified network, which was dose-dependent. experiment also revealed a significant additives ecological indicators communities. In particular, use significantly Maturity Index (MI) Structural (SI), indicates an improvement stability complexity ecosystem. Reducing migratory endoparasites other plant-parasitic nematodes, such as Pratylenchus spp. crucial increasing yield M. giganteus. changes were observed when applied at 10% (BD2). field trial assessed amendments microbiological characteristics. Although bacteria fungi did not change significantly, there increase Pseudomonas biochar-treated samples. This confirms role stimulator growth beneficial microorganisms microbial activity. At same time, activity dehydrogenase, indicator activity, under influence additives. test findings indicate addition has giganteus, contributing green mass harvest. long-lasting, demonstrating potential crops especially endoparasites, key factor improving yields. outcomes study confirm significance integrated approach improve crops. dose-dependent effects need adapt strategies specific agroecosystems. Further research should focus analysing fertilisers functioning networks processes soil.

Language: Английский

---

Pollution and biodiversity loss due to mining and agricultural activities: state of art

Revista de Investigaciones Altoandinas - Journal of High Andean Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 26(1), P. 56 - 66

Published: Jan. 31, 2024

The services provided from biodiversity and ecosystems are endangered by the various activities carried out human. Among them, mining agricultural have contributed to loss of deterioration ecosystems, however damage generated is overshadowed economic benefits it brings. Thus, objective this study was compile scientific literature that helps determine way in which these harm as well negative effects they trigger between them. To do this, original review articles Web science, Scopus Scielo databases were used. findings show there contamination with heavy metals, a product use agrochemicals activity. However, externalities unidirectional manner, production being subject caused mining.

Language: Английский

---

Fiber Hemp Biomass Yield and Quality on Shallow Stony Soil in Southwest Germany

Land, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 14(4), P. 720 - 720

Published: March 27, 2025

Shallow arable soils (<35 cm depth) are classified as marginal for common agriculture but may still support biomass production from industrial crops like fiber hemp, which has a low indirect land-use change risk. However, little is known about hemp’s performance under such conditions. Therefore, this study investigated the yield and quality of hemp other on shallow cm), stony (>15% stone content), clay-rich (>50% clay content) soil at 800 m above sea level in Southwest Germany (2018–2021). A randomized field trial tested different row widths nitrogen (N) fertilization levels to assess low-input options given type land. Across years widths, achieved average grain dry matter (DM) yields 1.3 Mg/ha rate 40 kg N/ha 1.6 120 (with 30.9 ± 1.4% crude fat content across treatments). The stem DM accounted 5.11 (40 N/ha) 6.08 (120 N/ha), respectively. Reduced N kg/ha) lowered by up 16% compared full kg/ha), effect was not significant weaker wider spacing (45 cm). Additionally, maize reached acceptable (>17 Mg/ha). These findings suggest that require reassessment, they offer viable opportunities sustainable cultivation contribute bio-based economy.

Language: Английский

---

Economic Challenges and Future Perspectives for Industrial Scale Biocrude Production

Biofuel and biorefinery technologies, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 531 - 556

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Developing Marginal‐Land‐Based Bioeconomy Systems—A Design and Development Approach for Bio‐Based Value Chains and Webs

GCB Bioenergy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(5)

Published: April 10, 2025

ABSTRACT Industrial crops grown on marginal lands offer a potential source of low‐iLUC feedstock for bio‐based industries, supporting sustainable bioeconomic development. However, marginal‐land‐based bioeconomy systems face significant uncertainties at early stages, such as limited data, farmers' hesitancy to adopt novel crops, undeveloped markets and immature technologies. This study implements an integrated multi‐criteria framework structured, multi‐step approach connect value chain components stakeholders in the research level. The was applied within EU Horizon project MIDAS identify, evaluate combine components, with case Swabian Alb (southern Germany) demonstrating its designing scalable chains tailored regional conditions. Key findings emphasise importance stakeholder collaboration, iterative design processes context‐specific criteria that address technical, economic, social regulatory aspects. approach, based qualitative data input, offers critical insights into feasibility biomass‐to‐product pathways serves foundation advanced research. Future needs focus expanding availability, incorporating quantitative methods, addressing economic market factors, willingness produce feedstocks, enhance scalability robustness facilitate establishment lands.

Language: Английский

---

Biochemical Parameters of Fallow Light Soil Enriched with Sewage Sludge

Agriculture, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(10), P. 1810 - 1810

Published: Oct. 14, 2024

One way to manage sewage sludge, which is consistent with the assumptions of European Green Deal, use it in agriculture. The study focused on possibility using soil enzyme activity and GMea index (the geometric mean activities) connection total organic carbon (TOC) nitrogen (TN) content assess quality fallow light after exogenous matter (EOM) fertilization. Exogenous form stabilized municipal sludge was introduced into soil. experiment included five variants: one control site four sites 30, 75, 150, 300 Mg ha−1 added contents TOC, TN heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd) material were assayed. In addition, enzymes, i.e., neutral phosphatase, urease, protease dehydrogenase, examined, activities (GMea index) calculated. Fertilization resulted an increase TOC proportionally EOM dose. addition increased tested did not exceed levels considered acceptable. introduction contributed stimulation biological life This evidenced by intensification activity. However, individual enzymes showed a different response fertilization, while significant fallowed soils as rate 150 ha−1.

Language: Английский

---