1. Bioenergy in the Mediterranean:
The Sustainability Component
Uwe R. Fritsche
Coordinator, Energy & Climate Division
Öko-Institut (Institute for Applied Ecology), Darmstadt Office
Introductory remarks for Session 4 of the Expert Consultation
“Sustainable Bioenergy cropping systems for the Mediterranean”,
Madrid, Ministry of Environment, Feb 9-10, 2006

2. The Issues: Social
High-quality small-scale food production (e.g. cheese, oil, wine): conflict with “mass-production” of bioenergy ?
Acceptance of bioenergy, and speed of innovation and social change adequate?
Rural development needs/agrotourism: who will do the “bioenergy cropping” farm work?
Cooperative structures vs. selling to “global players”: how to share the benefits?

3. The Issues: Economic
Higher bioenergy production costs due to smaller-scale settings?
Competing prices in the Mediterranean (share of fossil oil; lower internalization)?
Who invests in infrastructure (logistics) ?
Adequate access to finance?
Incentives to „switch“ to perennials?

4. The Issues: Technical
smaller + more local/regional approaches and systems vs. „bundling“ (CRES)?
„Dry“ biomass better than „wet“ (biogas…)?
Transport infrastructure (bioenergy logistics)? …