1 Bio-energy cropping systems Agro-environmental issues Madrid, 9/10 February 2006

2 Key aspects for agro-env. session General relationship agriculture + environment Feedback on EEA assessment Environmental matrix (?) Fire risks and bio-energy production Opportunities or mainly threats? What to do next ?!

3 Key environmental issues Agriculture is a key land use (50-70%) Farming has a major impact on natural resources: Water: quantity and quality Soils: erosion and carbon content Air emissions + climate change Farming also shapes landscapes and biodiversity habitats (in positive + negative ways)

4 Relationship between agricultural intensity and biodiversity Intensity of agriculture biodiversity

5 Impacts on Important Bird Areas Changing agric. practices cause butterfly decline. 80 % of all agricultural sites experience negat. impacts from intensification, abandonment, or both.

6 Agricultural bioenergy production: Environmental considerations (AREA) Extensively cultivated farmland usually has higher biodiversity value  30% of Utilized Agricultural Area ‘environmentally oriented’ farming in 2030 (except Be, Lux, Malta, NL) High loss of biodiversity & release of soil carbon if grassland is transformed into arable land  Only extensive bioenergy use from grassland Some farmland species require “ecological stepping stones”  set-aside 3% of intensively used farmland for nature conservation

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8 Agricultural bioenergy: minimise environ- mental pressure by growing the right crops 1.Every bioenergy crop has a specific env. performance & every region requires specific env. considerations 2. Grow bioenergy crops with low environmental pressure 3. Introduce a mix of bioenergy crops (maintain crop and landscape diversity) erosion soil compaction nutrient inputs ground& surface water pesticide pollution of soils and water water abstraction "increased fire risk“ biodiversity (diversity of crop type)

9 Priorisation of annual crops for the Atlantic Central and Lusitanian Zone Double cropping linseed (oil) Othe r Cere als Culti vated grass Clov er. alfalf a Hem p Sorg hum Must ard seed (only Lusit an) Whe at Sun flowe r Rape seed Suga r beets Potat oes M aiz e ErosionAAAAAA/BAA (B) AB/CBCCC soil compactionAAAA/B AAAAAACCB nutrient inputs ground- and surface water AAABBAABAA/BB/CBBC Pesticide pollution of soils and waterABAAAAB/CBABCBBC water abstraction---AAAABABBBBBCA/ B Increased fire risk--- C A Link to farmland biodiversityBA/BBA BBBB/CA/BB/CB (diversity of crop types)AABAABBACA (BC) A/BB B/ C

10 Explore co-benefits between energy use and nature protection 1. Use cuttings from grassland necessary to maintain biodiversity-rich grassland and landscape diversity: on average, 16% of NATURA2000 sites depend on the continuation of extensive farming practices provide (limited) amount of bioenergy (5-7% of total agric. potential) 2. Use new bioenergy crop systems and varieties reduced environmental pressure: less nutrient input, enhanced crop diversity, less use of heavy machines lower, structural elements high energy yield 3. Use forest residues Can support fire prevention measures in otherwise unmanaged forests in Southern Europe provides bioenergy, covering (parts of) the cost of collection

11 Jan-Erik Petersen European Environment Agency phone : – 7133 Thank you very much for your attention

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19 Looking into the future Who will manage high nature value farmland in 30 years time? Semi-subsistence farmers: small area Family farms: where conditions are right Organic farmers: require top-up schemes Nature managers: in many cases yes Large conventional farms: mostly not Bio-energy farmers: Yes, if we create the right conditions for it!

20 Underlying driving forces + factors Economic trends (increase in labour costs, falling product prices) Technological development Socio-economic expectations Further structural change is probable  Agricultural policy as a tool for delivering public goods  Limited administrative resources for more complex policies  Total agricult. budget likely to decline

21 The strategic perspective Nature conservation is forever.. There is not one single solution.. Discussion of a few principles Aim to add value to nature products Link policies up where possible but do not over-complicate delivery Exploit new trends where possible Focus on conserving or developing ?!