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Biomass and bioenergy production in organic agriculture
– consequences for soil fertility, environment, spread of animal parasites and socio-economy (BioConcens)
The production of bioenergy from local biological resources and the maintenance of soil fertility seem to have been opposing aims in organic agriculture. It is however, important to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and decrease greenhouse gas emissions in OA, especially in the context of enhanced integrity of OA.
Biogas, bioethanol, plant oils, wind energy, and biomass for combustion can be produced in organic agriculture and contribute renewable energy for self-sufficiency. Plant oils (biodiesel), biogas and bioethanol can be used as fuel for diesel engines and can be produced on-farm. Presently oilseed crops are difficult to cultivate in organic farming, due to many pests and a rather large area is required to substitute e.g. diesel in organic farming. Biogas can be produced in on-farm and co-ordinated medium or large-scale plants from animal manure and energy rich wastes. Grass-clover crops commonly grown in organic agriculture have a great potential as raw material for biogasification. Due to several barriers, biogas is not readily available as a fuel for diesel engines, but can be used to produce electricity and heat. Bioethanol produced from starch can be used as a substitute for diesel with addition of an ignition improver.
This interdisciplinary project aims at developing new methods and processes for co-production of bioethanol, biogas and animal feed based on resources from organic agriculture and associated food processing and suggests the outline of a medium-sized plant for co-production of biogas, bioethanol, and animal feed. The project will also design and test a new cropping system for biomass production to be used for bioenergy, while at the same time safeguarding soil quality. The project will analyze the effects of remains from bioenergy production on soil fertility, greenhouse gas emissions, survival of parasites and weed seeds in the manure as affected by bioenergy production. Corporate and socio-economic analysis of the co-production of biogas and bioethanol at different scales will be carried out.
Project manager
Professor Hanne Østergård
Technical University of Denmark
Risø National Laboratory
Biosystems Department, BIO-301
Frederiksborgvej 399, P.O. Box 49
DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Tel.: +45 46 77 41 11. Fax: +45 46 77 42 60
E-mail: hags@risoe.dtu.dk
2007/2008 BioConcens was led by
Professor Erik Steen Jensen
Technical University of Denmark
Risø National Laboratory
Biosystems Department, BIO-301
Frederiksborgvej 399, P.O. Box 49
DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Tel.: +45 46 77 41 08. Fax: +45 46 77 42 60
E-mail: Erik.S.Jensen@risoe.dk