BioMatNet Item: FAIR-CT96-1449 - Combined food and bio-energy systems for more efficient land use and sustainable production

FAIR-CT96-1449
Combined food and bio-energy systems for more efficient land use and sustainable production

Contacts
Website: www.lars.bbsrc.ac.uk/cropenv/ec/fair.html
Further Information

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FAIR Area 4.1 - Reformed CAP : Solid Biofuels : Wood (Lignocellulose)

Type of Project:	Shared Cost	Contract No:	FAIR-CT96-1449
Total Cost:	1 056 000 ECU	EC Contribution:	785 000 ECU
Start Date:	01/02/1997	Duration:	40 months
Date Prepared:	April 1998	Source:	Proposal Abstract

Combined food and bio-energy systems for more efficient land use and sustainable production

Introduction
The purpose of this project is to evaluate the potential for developing farming systems which provide nutritious food in conjunction with valuable non-food renewable energy biomass crops, as a financially viable alternative to the setaside option. This will be done by examining the feasibility, environmental benefits and economic viability of alternative arable systems of production that integrate renewable energy (biomass) crops with food crops and perennial vegetation.

Objectives
The specific objectives are as follows:

to evaluate combined, less-intensive, food and renewable energy crop production systems compatible with environmental protection for a more sustainable European agriculture.
to examine and model modified land use and management techniques to enhance landscape, biodiversity and biological control by providing ecological reservoirs to exploit natural regulation within adjacently grown food crops.
to assess the physical and biological properties, the nutrient and energy balances, and the economic viability of combined food and energy production systems.
to evaluate the production and processing cycle of energy crops for heat and power production.
to build upon and improve existing principles for lower-input integrated crop production and to extend these in the direction of energy neutral agricultural production.
to provide the agricultural industry with effective integrated packages of land use and crop management for energy neutral alternative production systems that are less reliant upon external inputs.

Contacts

Coordinator

IACR Long Ashton Research Station Department of Agricultural Sciences / UNITED KINGDOM

EC Scientific Officer

Alkimini KATSADA / European Commission DG VI Agriculture BELGIUM

Participant