Sustainable Bioenergy Cropping System for the Mediterranean Session 4: Session 4: Bioenergy in the Mediterranean region: the sustainability component. Social, economical and technical issues Ministry for Environment, Madrid (9-10 February 2006) Chair: U. Fritsche, Institute for Appied Ecology Co-chair: J.Domac, EIHP Zagreb

General objectives for the session: Considerations that sustainable crop mixes will need to have into account: Environmental considerations (problems of the region) Yields of the crops Availability of bioenergy conversion technologies Transport infrastructures Development of demand side for different bioenergy products Regional economic development impacts and employment options

Questions for the discussion: - Quality small scale food production vs. mass production for bioenergy - Acceptance of bioenergy, public perception of biomass - Rural development and agro-tourism - How many jobs are wanted/needed – Is there enough labor force - Logistics and transport infrastructures - Price structures - Bioenergy project financing - Change to perennials - Bundling systems? - Dry biomass vs. wet biomass

Human resources for bioenergy development - Nowadays people in the country side disappear and the only solution are subsidies - Bioenergy crops are labor intensive, therefore there is a intensive need of human resources. No real competition in the demand of human power with the more attractive agro-tourism business. Public perception - Rising interest of the general public. - Importance of sending a positive but real message to the farmers: Bioenergy is going to maintain the country side population but probably not to increase it. Not a golden solution

Small system vs budling systems - After 2015 when conversion technologies for lignocellulosic biomass is expected to be competitive and there will be the need of gross production of biomass bundling systems will be the option. - However, small systems may be suitable for small self-sustainable solutions Land use for high quality small scale food production versus bioenergy production - Different markets therefore different opportunities

Market analysis - Important to look at the demand when market analysis is set out - Be aware of the high region dependence of bioenergy - Subsidies: needed meanwhile the technology is developed. - Market liberalization: to create a fair market and option could be establish a global standard for agriculture including environmental limitation.