Reporting on Session 3: Environmental considerations Sustainable bioenergy cropping systems for the Mediterranean Madrid 9th-10th February 2006

Environmental considerations  Various levels Energy CO2 balance, transport etc. (needs standardised approach) Water balance Chemical inputs Soil Fires Biodiversity

Intensive land (maize, cereals, sugarbeet, tobacco)  Main concern is inputs - opportunities to reduce current consumption (water and N especially) and diversify cropping  Some biodiversity considerations, e.g. Portugal example of wintering birds on irrigated land  Opportunity to restrict competition for low- intensity, HNV farming systems (e.g. have irrigated energy crops, not olives)

Low-intensity land (crops and grazing) within natural limits  Main concern is biodiversity Cereal/grass steppes, dehesas, mountain grazing have few options for energy cropping BUT if introduced with big subsidies the change could disrupt biodiversity values Maintaining existing systems (or careful evolution) should be priority for biodiversity  Biomass is possible by-product from dehesas, olives, vines, farm woodland, that might help viability (requires initiatives)

Fires  Fire prevention needs extraction of dry matter from forest and scrub land  Using this for energy is a potential win-win, perhaps the main one for the Med region  But needs organising, will not be market led  Grazing and browsing are complementary to dry matter removal  Fire risk on energy crops is not a main concern

Conclusions  Need to clarify which land is most likely to be used, and under which crops?  Evaluate pros and cons of new crops (improve the matrix).  Preferable options are: Using productive, irrigated land for new energy crops as alternative to intensive food production Helping to reduce water and other input use in sensitive areas; possibly for soil conservation Biomass extraction as a complement to fire prevention measures on forest and scrub land

Conclusions  All this needs evaluation and planning at the right geographical level:  …alongside biodiversity, water use, etc.  …taking account of farm and environmental realities  …co-operation between authorities – Energy, Environment, Agriculture