By 2030, the Netherlands can make about 10 million more tons of bio-based materials available, on top of the 30 million tons that is now available for food, animal feed, materials and energy. This will allow, among other things, to produce 1,3 billion cubic meters of biogas to replace natural gas or other fossil fuels in the transport sector.
That is the conclusion of the committee of experts that has drawn up the Roadmap for National Biomaterials. The reason is the Climate Agreement. There was a demand for more biomass from the various sectors involved. The industry wants to use it to produce building materials and bioplastics. The transport sector wants biofuels and the energy sector wants to use renewable bio raw materials in addition to wind and sun for electricity or heat generation and adjustable power, the authors of the Roadmap write.
The agricultural sector wants to produce biogas from manure. However, high-quality sustainable biomass that is not discussed is scarce. Imports from abroad for climate purposes are controversial. A steering committee has therefore looked for possibilities to increase the supply of bio-based raw materials in the Netherlands.
Multiple routes
The sustainable energy experts who advise the government on climate policy write that the supply of sustainable biomass can be increased through more efficient cultivation, through more efficient use of existing flows and by making better use of residual flows.
New cultivation methods such as rotational cultivation and strip farming can increase yields. In addition, there are opportunities for cultivation of seaweed and algae. Better use of grass and fodder by applying refining technology improves the feed and reduces the amount needed. Less has to be imported or acreage is left over.
If more grass can be produced with less land, farmland will become available – if the livestock remains the same – for the cultivation of sugar beets or starch potatoes, for example. If the livestock shrinks, even more land becomes available for other crops. However, not all grassland is suitable for alternative cultivation. The residual flows present such as organic waste and sewage sludge are usually already used, but further optimization contributes to greater availability of bio-based raw materials.
Dilemmas and choices
Not everything can be done at the same time. Choices are needed, the sustainable energy experts conclude. If optimization for CO2 emission reduction is the goal, then it makes sense to opt for production of more sugar beet, an ideal bio raw material for the chemical industry to make numerous products. But it can also be a choice to become less dependent on the import of animal feed or to give more land a nature destination. The advisers call on the government to make clear choices and to encourage an increase in the supply of desired bio-based raw materials. This also requires cooperation between agriculture and chemistry.
Organic raw material improves nature quality
The steering committee uses the word 'biomass' instead of the term 'biomass'. Because, according to them, this better expresses the fact that there are many types of bio-based raw materials. This concerns all raw materials of biotic origin: agricultural crops, residual flows from agriculture (including manure), yields from forestry and landscape management, residual flows such as sawdust, organic waste, sewage sludge and green waste.
In order to count towards the objective of 'increasing the supply', the bio-based raw materials must be sustainable. This means that they should not harm nature and biodiversity or soil management, but should preferably contribute to recovery. In addition, there should be no competition with the food supply.
SER advice to government
At the beginning of July, the Social Economic Council published the report 'Biomass in Balance', in which the government is advised to invest in high-quality biomass and to phase out the subsidy on low-grade, non-sustainable biomass.
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