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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Urbana, Illinois » Global Change and Photosynthesis Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #344446
Title: Consensus, uncertainties and challenges for perennial bioenergy crops and land use

Author
item WHITAKER, J - University Of Lancaster
item FIELD, J - Colorado State University
item Bernacchi, Carl
item CERRI, C E P - University Of Antwerp
item CEULEMANS, R - University Of Antwerp
item DAVIES, C - Shell Technology Center
item DELUCIA, E - University Of Illinois
item DONNISON, I - Aberystwyth University
item MCCALMONT, JON - Aberystwyth University
item PAUSTIAN, K - Colorado State University

Submitted to: Global Change Biology Bioenergy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2017
Publication Date: 3/1/2018
Citation: Whitaker, J., Field, J.L., Bernacchi, C.J., Cerri, C., Ceulemans, R., Davies, C.A., DeLucia, E.H., Donnison, I.S., McCalmont, J.P., Paustian, K., et al. 2018. Consensus, uncertainties and challenges for perennial bioenergy crops and land use. Global Change Biology Bioenergy. 10(3):150-164.

Interpretive Summary: Renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly important to pursue for many reasons including energy security, rural economics, and environmental benefits. Perennial bioenergy crops have significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are responsible for global warming and contribute to climate change mitigation by removing the need for increased use of fossil fuels. Yet delivering significant GHG savings will require substantial land-use change, globally. Over the last decade, a great deal of research has led to interesting discoveries that can help understanding of the environmental benefits and risks of using perennial bioenergy crops. For policymakers to assess the most cost-effective and sustainable options for deployment and climate change mitigation, these discoveries need to be compiled. In 2015 a workshop was convened with researchers, policymakers and industry/business representatives from the UK, EU and internationally. Published research on bioenergy land-use change from many different experiments were compared to identify areas of consensus, key uncertainties, and research priorities. Here we discuss the strength of evidence for and against six consensus statements summarising the effects of land-use change to perennial bioenergy crops on the cycling of carbon, nitrogen and water. This review shows that the direct impacts bioenergy crops on soil carbon and nitrous oxide are increasingly well understood, and are often consistent with significant lifecycle GHG mitigation from bioenergy relative to conventional energy sources. We conclude that the perennial bioenergy crops will often reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and thus warming. The research also shows there is a mature and increasingly comprehensive evidence base on the environmental benefits and risks of bioenergy cultivation which can support the development of a sustainable bioenergy industry.

Technical Abstract: Perennial bioenergy crops have significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and contribute to climate change mitigation by substituting for fossil fuels; yet delivering significant GHG savings will require substantial land-use change, globally. Over the last decade, research has delivered improved understanding of the environmental benefits and risks of this transition to perennial bioenergy crops, addressing concerns that the impacts of land conversion to perennial bioenergy crops could result in increased rather than decreased GHG emissions. For policymakers to assess the most cost-effective and sustainable options for deployment and climate change mitigation, synthesis of these studies is needed to support evidence-based decision making. In 2015 a workshop was convened with researchers, policymakers and industry/business representatives from the UK, EU and internationally. Outcomes from global research on bioenergy land-use change were compared to identify areas of consensus, key uncertainties, and research priorities. Here we discuss the strength of evidence for and against six consensus statements summarizing the effects of land-use change to perennial bioenergy crops on the cycling of carbon, nitrogen and water, in the context of the whole life-cycle of bioenergy production. Our analysis suggests that the direct impacts of dedicated perennial bioenergy crops on soil carbon and nitrous oxide are increasingly well understood, and are often consistent with significant lifecycle GHG mitigation from bioenergy relative to conventional energy sources. We conclude that the GHG balance of perennial bioenergy crop cultivation will often be favorable, with maximum GHG savings achieved where crops are grown on soils with low carbon stocks and conservative nutrient application, accruing additional environmental benefits such as improved water quality. The research synthesized here demonstrates there is a mature and increasingly comprehensive evidence base on the environmental benefits and risks of bioenergy cultivation which can support the development of a sustainable bioenergy industry.