Marginal land for growing industrial crops: Turning a ... · CIEMAT, INRA, UHOH, SILAVA, IBC...

Efthymia Alexopoulou, CRES

26th European biomass conference & exhibition

14-18 May 2018, Copenhagen

Marginal land for growing industrial crops:

Turning a burden into an opportunity

The MAGIC project has received funding from the European Union’s

Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant

agreement No 727698.

www.pulp2value.eu www.magic-h2020.eu – 2 – Efthymia Alexopoulou, CRES, EUBCE 2018

Project identity

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MAGIC aims to promote the sustainable development of resource-efficient and

economically profitable industrial crops grown on marginal lands. This in the

long term will foster the solid development of the EU biobased economy and will

contribute to achieving the energy and climate targets.


The Concept

Fine or bulk chemicals

Biomaterials

Bioenergy

Industrial applications fostering the

biobased economy

Climate change mitigation

Industrial crops contribute: a) to the diversification of farmers' income and b) to the supply of renewable

raw materials

Industrial crops to be grown on marginal land (~1,350,000 ha in Europe) to avoid food vs

fuel competition

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To develop an up-to-date database (MAGIC-CROPS) of existing resource-

efficient industrial crops, which will provide information on their agronomic

characteristics, input requirements, yield performance and qualitative traits

for innovative bio-based applications WP1

To identify, though a multi-actor approach inclusive of stakeholders, the most

promising industrial crops suitable for production on European land facing

natural constraints WP1

To map, characterise and analyse projections of current and future

marginal land in Europe facing natural constraints and provide a spatially

explicit classification that will serve as a basis for developing sustainable

best-practice options for industrial crops in Europe WP2

To create new breeding tools and strategies towards better varieties of the

selected industrial crops that will be resource-efficient and can be profitably

cultivated on marginal land in Europe WP3

To identify and improve appropriate agronomic practices with limited input-

requirements for the selected resource-efficient industrial crops WP4

Specific objectives


To develop suitable harvesting strategies and logistics for the selected

industrial crops on marginal land so that the performance of the whole biomass

supply-chain is optimised WP5

To maximise the impact of MAGIC through the provision of objective information

regarding all important sustainability aspects (covering environment, society

and economy) of the value chains using scientific, transparent and reproducible

methodologies WP6

To analyse success stories of the selected industrial crops in European regions

addressing technical, environmental, economic and social issues and to produce

policy recommendations and best-practice guidelines in order to promote

the appropriate sourcing of renewable materials from marginal land at

local/regional level WP7

To develop, test and disseminate a Decision Support System (DSS) with the

active involvement of farmers and other end users (industry & policy makers)

WP1, WP8

To disseminate the project results, the database, the maps and the DSS tool to

increase farmers’ awareness and establish strong links with EIP AGRI WP8

Specific objectives


WPs interaction


Major geographical/climatic zones in

Europe; yellow spots indicate new

and established field trials.

Already established trials

on perennial crops: all

WP4 partners

Small-scale field trials on

top 15 industrial crops

under different marginality

factors: CRES, UNICT,

CIEMAT, INRA, UHOH,

SILAVA, IBC

Large-scale field trials on

top 15 industrial

harvesting trials and

realistic data for WP5 & 6:

CRES, UNIBO, CIEMAT,

NOVABIOM, UHOH,

SILAVA, IBC

Pot trials: AUA, UNICT,

FCT UNL, INFMP


Distribution of agro-ecological zones taken into

consideration for the development of marginal land low-input

systems for industrial crops across Europe modified from

Elbersen et al. (2018a) and Metzger et al. (2005)


Actions so far …

• Selection of the sources for the database

• Selection of the industrial crops that will be included in the MAGIC CROPS database (37 crops)

• Selection of the most promising industrial crops that will be studied in detail (19 IN T)

• Set up of MAGIC-CROPS and MAGIC DSS

WP1. Database

20 industrial crops have been selected in total

8 of them can be grown in three MAEZ of the project (camelina, crambe,

switchgrass, miscanthus, industrial hemp, pennycress, poplar,

Siberian elm)

Some of them can be grouped in more than one category (such as cardoon,

hemp, etc.).


List of the most promising

industrial crops

Category Selected industrial crops

Oilseeds & specialty camelina, crambe, castor bean,

Ethiopian mustard, safflower, lupin,

hemp, cardoon, pennycress

Carbohydrate sweet sorghum, lupin

Lignocellulosic Perennial herbaceous crops

(switchgrass, miscanthus, giant

reed, reed canary grass, cardoon, tall

wheatgrass, Wild sugarcane)

Fibre crops (industrial hemp, fiber

sorghum)

Woody crops (willow, poplar, Siberian

Elm, Black locust)


• A user-friendly decision support system (MAGIC-DSS) will

be developed to address the information needs of the MAGIC

major stakeholders (farmers, industry) but also other interest

groups (e.g. consumers, environmentalists).

• The MAGIC-DSS will be tested, through a multi-actor

approach involving partners, farmers’ organisations and

relevant interest groups, in a total number of nine national

interactive workshops.

• A survey has been set in order the user requirements (from

the MAGIC stakeholders) from a decision support system

(DSS) to be solicited.

• The survey can be found on

https://goo.gl/forms/znX2xt0GukfJeJRC3

• Please read more for MAGIC in www.magic-h2020.eu

Decision Support System

(DSS)

https://goo.gl/forms/znX2xt0GukfJeJRC3

http://www.magic-h2020.eu/




So far actions …

• Definition of the term “marginal lands” that will be used in MAGIC

• Maps with the marginal lands facing natural constrains in Europe (Ukraine was not included; partner in MAGIC)

• Statistics on marginal land classification that was used in WP4 (maps were created for the selected crops)

WP2. Maps

In agricultural lands (continuous & discontinuous agricultural use since 1990): • Areas with natural constraints • Fragile lands • Degraded lands In all lands: • Contaminated sites


Definition of marginal lands for

MAGIC


Marginal lands based on biophysical constraints in EU-28 (marginal lands are in the

severe and sub-severe class) taken from Elbersen et al. (2018b).

Area of marginal land per agro-

ecological zone (AEZ).

Overall, the marginal surface covers around 28% of total agricultural area of the EU-28


So far actions …

• In order to new breeding tools and strategies to be developed that will allow the development of better varieties for the selected industrial crop two parallel approaches have been employed (one for oilseeds and one for lignocellulosic crops).

• By month 18 seeds or plant material of advance breeding material will be ready to be tested in the new fields of WP4

WP3. Breeding

Oil crop: Reverse genetics

Genes phenotype

Mutations

Candidate gene approach

Lignocellulose: Forward genetics

Phenotype Genes

Natural diversity

Based on variability in traits


Principles of low-input agriculture

(UHOH)


• In the beginning of the project it was developed the MALLIS (Marginal Land Low-

input Systems) to be implemented at regional and field-to-farm level in Europe,

taking into consideration both economic feasibility and environmental

sustainability. The fundamental goal is to support governmental decision-makers

in the design of strategies to meet the increasing demand for biomass in a

growing bioeconomy.

• The development of MALLIS in MAGIC is based on the following definition of

low-input agricultural practices: a component of agricultural management

systems for sustainable crop production that focuses on achieving high output

through the selection of appropriate crop type or development of new varieties

appropriate for the prevailing marginality constraints. These practices aim not only

to fulfil optimal crop requirements but also to enhance environmental and

ecological services and contribute towards the development of farm economy in a

specific climatic zone.

• The first step was an investigation into the size and distribution of marginal areas

in Europe and the reasons for limitations to food crop production on such marginal

lands. This was based on MAGIC-MAPS)where the prevalent marginal agro-

ecological zones (MAEZ) where identified and mapped. A 'MAEZ' is defined here

as the combination of a biophysical constraint to crop production (M for marginal)

and a climatic zone (AEZ).

Development of MALLIS


Actions so far …

• Definition of the low-input agricultural practices for industrial crops on marginal land

• Finalization of the new field trials (task 4.3 & 4.4)

• Continuation of the already established field trials

WP4. Field Trials

• Long-term trials on perennial crops, established in previous and/or on-going projects on marginal land • Small-scale trials, in which the selected industrial crops will be tested: a) in field trials under low-input tailored practices in areas facing natural constraints; and b) in pot trials (greenhouse conditions) on specific marginality factors (i.e. contamination, salinity, sodicity) and levels. • Large-scale trials (500-2000 m2 strip plots without replications) will be set up to assess the feasibility and profitability of selected industrial crops on marginal land under real farming conditions


Spatial distribution of

suitable climate and

soil/terrain conditions on

both marginal and non-

marginal land across

Europe (EU-28) for

miscanthus based on

climate and soil/terrain

growth-suitability

rankings (prepared by

WR)


Spatial distribution of

suitable climate and

soil/terrain conditions on

both marginal and non-

marginal land across

Europe (EU-28) for

camelina based on

climate and soil/terrain

growth-suitability

rankings (prepared by

WR)


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Partner AEZ MAEZ (constraints) Supposed conversion routes

Recommended industrial crops

Key management issues

CIEMAT

1 RT_1 (unfavourable texture and stoniness)

Lignocellulosic Tall wheatgrass, Siberian elm

Minimum/no tillage

Woody Rainfed

1 CL_1 (dryness) Lignocellulosic Hemp, Tall wheatgrass

Reduced irrigation vs no irrigation

CRES

1 RT_1 (unfavourable texture and stoniness)

Oil Crambe, Camelina, Pennycress, Safflower, Biomass Sorghum

Minimum/no tillage

Carbohydrate Reduced fertilization

Reduced irrigation

1 FE_1 (acidity) Lignocellulosic Tall wheatgrass

Minimum/no tillage

Reduced fertilization

Reduced irrigation

UNICT

1 TR_1 (steep slope)

Oil Camelina, Crambe, Pennycress, Tall wheatgrass, Cardoon, Safflower

Minimum/no tillage

Lignocellulosic Reduced fertilization (incl. compost)

Rainfed

1 CL_1 (dryness)

Oil

Hemp, Miscanthus, Giant reed, Wild sugarcane

Minimum/no tillage

lignocellulosic Reduced fertilization (incl. compost)

Reduced irrigation/rainfed

1 CH_1 (salinity) Oil Lupin, Ethiopian mustard, Crambe, Cardoon

Optimal fertilization /reduced fertilization (incl. compost),

Reduced irrigation/rainfed

INRA 2 CH_2 (contamination) Lignocellulosic Miscanthus Minimum/no tillage

Bio-fertilisation

IBC-SB

3 RT_3 (hard clay and limited soil drainage)

Lignocellulosic Woody

Tall wheatgrass, Willow, Hemp, Poplar, Reed canary gras

Minimum/no tillage


Weed control/reduced weed control

3 CH_3 (acidity) Lignocellulosic Woody

Miscanthus, Cardoon, Tall wheatgrass, Flax, Poplar, Willow, Siberian elm

Minimum/no tillage



3 CH_3 (contamination: mineral fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides)

Lignocellulosic Hemp, Miscanthus, Biomass sorghum, Willow

Minimum/no tillage



SILAVA 3

CL_RT_3 (unfavourable texture and stoniness combined with low temperature)

Woody Willow, Siberian elm, Poplar

Minimum/no tillage


UHOH 3

CL_RT_3 (unfavorable texture and stoniness combined with low temperature)

Lignocellulosic Camelina, Tall wheatgrass, Reed canary grass, Poplar, Crambe, Willow, Miscanthus, Hemp

Minimum/no tillage

Oil Reduced fertilization



So far actions …

• Inventory on available strategies technologies on industrial crops (sources: previous and on-going research projects, international literature and market)

• Selection of two demand driven cases studies; EMPYRO;BTG & Siant-Menet Biorefinery; ARKEMA. The first will focus on lignocellulosic crops and the second on oilseeds ones.

WP5. Logistics

Demand driven case studies EMPYRO, BTG: commercial demonstration plant for conversion of

biomass into pyrolysis oil (24.000 tons of oil per year; started in 2016; 7 employees; located at Hengelo (The Netherlands)

The Saint-Menet Biorefinery, ARKEMA: 52000 tons oil per year; started in 1995; 343 employees; occupied 13 ha, located in Marseille (France)


The consortium; 25 partners from

12 countries

Research institutes: CRES, WR, INRA, CREA, INF & MP, IBC, SILAVA, IIASA Universities: UNIBO, WR, UHOH, ICL, UNICT, FCT UNL, AUA SMEs: IFEU, NOVA, Spanish Co-ops, 3B, BTG, NOVABIOM, VDS, BIOS Industry: ARKEMA


Thank you for your attention Efthymia Alexopoulou, [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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