Bioenergy from “surplus” land: environmental and socio-economic implications

May combine two claims.

Deep roots and fast growth of perennial biomass crops result in high water uptake, and have been found to decrease effective rainfall by 50-60% compared with annual crops.

“The deep roots and fast growth of perennial biomass crops result in high water uptake, and have been found to decrease effective rainfall by 50-60% compared with annual crops (Stephens et al. 2001).”

• cites Stephens et al. 2001Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

May combine two claims.

Reijnders and Huijbregts (2007) calculate that N2O emissions of 0.2-1.0t CO2 equiv.ha-1 yr-1, and soil carbon loss of 3.1 t CO2 equiv.ha-1 yr-1 for wheat and sugarbeet production equate to GHG emissions of 2.0-2.5 kg kg-1 ethanol and 0.6-0.9kg kg-1 ethanol, respectively.

“Reijnders and Huijbregts (2007) calculate that N 2 O emissions of 0.2-1.0t CO 2 equiv.ha -1 yr -1 , and soil carbon loss of 3.1 t CO 2 equiv.ha -1 yr -1 for wheat and sugarbeet production equate to GHG emissions of 2.0-2.5 kg kg -1 ethanol and 0.6-0.9kg kg -1 ethanol, respectively, from the two crops.”

• cites Reijnders and Huijbregts 2007Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Low-yield energy crop production on marginal lands is clearly uneconomic.

“Soldatos et al. (2011) found that low-yield energy crop production on marginal lands is clearly uneconomic.”

• cites Soldatos et al. 2011Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

While bioethanol production costs from feedstock grown in the Netherlands are uncompetitive with petrol, the cost of second generation ethanol production from Miscanthus grown on low grade agricultural land was calculated to be lower than the cost of ethanol production from sugarbeet grown on high grade agricultural land.

“Meanwhile, whilst van der Hilst et al. (2010) found bioethanol production costs from feedstock grown in the Netherlands to be uncompetitive with petrol, the cost of second generation ethanol production from Miscanthus grown on low grade agricultural land was calculated to be lower than the cost of ethanol production from sugarbeet grown on high grade agricultural land.”

• cites van der Hilst et al. 2010Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The Global Total Primary Energy Supply was about 509 EJ yr-1 in 2009.

“In comparison, the Global Total Primary Energy Supply (i.e. the sum of all energy resources worldwide) was estimated to be about 509 EJ yr -1 in 2009 (IEA 2011).”

• cites IEA 2011Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Ambiguity in the definition and characterization of surplus land and uncertainty in assessments of land availability and future bioenergy potentials is causing confusion about the prospects and environmental and socio-economic implications of bioenergy development on surplus land.

“Ambiguity in the definition and characterization of surplus land as well as uncertainty in assessments of land availability and of future bioenergy potentials is causing confusion about the prospects and the environmental and socio-economic implications of bioenergy development in those areas.”

May combine two claims.

Categorizing or quantifying marginal lands underlies great uncertainties and results in wide-ranging estimates of availability and suitability for bioenergy crops.

“Therefore, categorizing or quantifying marginal lands underlies great uncertainties and results in wide-ranging estimates of availability and suitability for bioenergy crops (Dale et al. 2010).”

• cites Dale et al. 2010Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

The high level of uncertainty about bioenergy development on surplus land is due to environmental, economic and social constraints not yet taken into account and to the potentials offered by novel crops and their production methods not being fully exploited.

“The high level of uncertainty is due to environmental, economic and social constraints not yet taken into account and to the potentials offered by those novel crops and their production methods not being fully exploited.”

May combine two claims.

BMVBS (2010) calculated a global technical potential in 2020 of 15 EJ from agricultural land, 36 to 57 EJ from forestry and 30 EJ from residues like straw, excrements or organic waste.

“A moderate estimation of bioenergy potential not explicitly considering degraded lands was given by BMVBS (2010), calculating a global technical potential in 2020 of 15 EJ from agricultural land, 36 to 57 EJ from forestry and 30 EJ from residues like straw, excrements or organic waste.”

• cites BMVBS (2010)Not checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

There are no scientific studies at present that resolve the scientific challenges related to the assessment of future bioenergy potentials.

“Haberl et al. (2010), in a critical review of modelling and calculation approaches, conclude that there are no scientific studies at present that resolve the scientific challenges related to the assessment of future bioenergy potentials.”

• cites Haberl et al. (2010)Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Waste land cannot be cultivated under conventional conditions and is usually not suitable for production of dedicated energy crops.

“Due to the boundaries of cultivation as set by climate and soil, these areas cannot be cultivated under conventional conditions and, therefore, are usually not suitable for production of dedicated energy crops (Wiegmann et al. 2008).”

• cites Wiegmann et al. 2008Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Low yields may increase the need for input of investment, labour and resources, affecting the energy balance such that the energy return on investment could easily become critical.

“Low yields may further increase the need for input of investment, labour and resources, affecting the energy balance such that the energy return on investment (EROI) could easily become critical.”

May combine two claims.

Energy crop production on marginal or degraded lands might enrich certain landscape values such as structural heterogeneity or aesthetics if planted not as landscape-wide monoculture but in smaller plots, but might still generate conflicts with biodiversity conservation.

“Although energy crop production on marginal or degraded lands might enrich certain landscape values such as structural heterogeneity or aesthetics (Fernando 2005) if planted not as landscape-wide monoculture but in smaller plots, it might still generate conflicts with biodiversity conservation (Plieninger and Gaertner 2011).”

• cites Fernando 2005Not checked yet

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• cites Plieninger and Gaertner 2011Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Restricting the production of dedicated biomass crops to arable land in order to prevent conversion of permanent grassland could aggravate the food/energy conflict and stimulate increased indirect land-use change.

“Restricting the production of dedicated biomass crops to arable land in order to prevent the conversion of permanent grassland could however aggravate the food/energy-conflict and stimulate increased iLUC.”

May combine two claims.

Marginal yields could entail a high land-take for energy crops to match existing or targeted demand for feedstock, which could result in conflicts with pastoralism and lands of high nature value as well as indirect land-use change.

“Marginal yields could entail a high land-take for energy crops to match the existing or targeted demand for the respective feedstock.This again could result in conflicts for example with pastoralism and lands of high nature value as well as in indirect land-use change (iLUC; see Indirect land-use change).”

May combine two claims.

Energy crops suitable for less productive soils can be used primarily for second generation biofuels, as far as refineries are an economically viable option in areas characterised by less productive soil.

“Consequently, such crops can be used primarily for second generation biofuels, as far as refineries are an economically viable option in areas characterised by less productive soil.”

May combine two claims.

Marginal lands often have poor and heterogeneous soils and are situated at transition zones between highly fertile crop land and vulnerable ecosystems, restricting possibilities for conventional agricultural management.

“Marginal lands often have poor and heterogeneous soils and are situated at “transition zones” between highly fertile crop land and vulnerable ecosystems like protected natural sites, restricting the possibilities for conventional agricultural management.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Preventing the abandonment and intensification of High Nature Value farmland is a key action to halt the decline of biodiversity in Europe.

“Preventing the abandonment and intensification of HNV farmland is beheld as a key action to halt the decline of biodiversity in Europe (EEA 2009).”

• cites EEA 2009Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Despite recent findings that short-rotation coppice and perennial grass crops can potentially benefit farm-scale biodiversity, establishment of perennial biomass crops on land other than arable fields is still regarded as a threat rather than a benefit to biodiversity.

“Despite recent findings that SRC and perennial grass crops can potentially benefit farm-scale biodiversity (Dauber et al. 2010;Rowe et al. 2011;Emmerson et al. 2011), establishment of perennial biomass crops on land other than arable fields is still regarded as a threat rather than a benefit to biodiversity (BfN 2010).”

• cites Dauber et al. 2010Not checked yet

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• cites Rowe et al. 2011Not checked yet

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• cites Emmerson et al. 2011Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Lower yields may concentrate nutrients such as nitrogen, compromising use for combustion purposes due to higher NOx emissions.

“Lower yields may also concentrate nutrients, such as nitrogen, compromising its use for combustion purposes, for example, due to higher NO x emissions.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Production of crops for bioenergy from marginal, degraded and abandoned lands is inadequately documented and only a small amount of data from demonstration or modelling projects is available.

“Yet, the production of crops for bioenergy from those land classes is inadequately documented and only a small amount of data from demonstration or modelling projects is available.”

May combine two claims.

On degraded land, two major constraints of biomass production are the large efforts and long time period required for reclamation of degraded land and the low productivity levels of these soils.

“On degraded land, two major constraints of biomass production are the large efforts and long time period required for the reclamation of degraded land and the low productivity levels of these soils (Dornburg et al. 2010).”

• cites Dornburg et al. 2010Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Energy crops suitable for less productive soils are typically optimized for maximum biomass and not for sugar or oil content.

“Typically, energy crops suitable for less productive soils are optimized for maximum biomass and not for sugar or oil content.”

May combine two claims.

Estimates of high yields of mixtures of native grassland perennials from agriculturally degraded lands in Northern America are questioned on the basis of potential nutrient losses from the system, high expenditures for weed control and an overestimation of availability of such degraded lands.

“Estimates of high yields of mixtures of native grassland perennials from agriculturally degraded lands in Northern America are questioned on the basis of potential nutrient losses from the system, high expenditures for weed control and an overestimation of availability of such degraded lands (Russelle et al. 2007).”

• cites Russelle et al. 2007Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Degradation generally results in low yield potentials, low yield levels and low nutrient efficiency with risk of harvest loss.

“Degradation generally results in low yield potentials, low yield levels and low nutrient efficiency with risk of harvest loss (Cofie and Penning de Vries 2002).”

• cites Cofie and Penning de Vries 2002Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

May combine two claims.

The quality of biomass from semi-natural grasslands depends on the meadow type, with different qualities required for biogas and combustion.

“Nevertheless, the quality of the respective biomass depends on the meadow type, with different qualities required for biogas and combustion (Heinsoo et al. 2010).”

• cites Heinsoo et al. 2010Not checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Biofuels in the EU must deliver current GHG savings of at least 35% compared with fossil fuels, rising to 50% in 2017 and 60% for new crops in 2018.

“Biofuels must deliver current GHG savings of at least 35% compared with fossil fuels, rising to 50% in 2017 and to 60%, for biofuels from new crops, in 2018 (Europa 2010).”

• cites Europa 2010Not checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The finding that conservation grasslands with higher plant species numbers had lower biomass and ethanol yields could stimulate management of those grasslands towards low diversity systems, excluding species with undesirable fermentation characteristics.

“This finding could stimulate the management of those grasslands towards low diversity systems, excluding species with undesirable fermentation characteristics.”

May combine two claims.

Growing energy crops predominately in marginal areas might cause long distance transport of feedstock if processing plants are centralised and distant, which could make net gains in energy and CO2-neutrality disappear.

“This could induce relatively long distance transport of the bioenergy feedstock in cases where processing plants are centralised and distant from production areas.Long transport distances of bioenergy feedstock could make net gains in energy and CO 2 -neutrality disappear (Giller et al. 2007).”

• cites Giller et al. 2007Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Increased bioenergy production can lead to price increases for all agricultural raw materials competing for scarce production factors, which could result in expansion of arable land into areas marginal for agricultural production under current conditions.

“Furthermore, increased bioenergy production can lead to price increases for all agricultural raw materials competing for scarce production factors, which could result in an expansion of arable land into areas that are marginal for agricultural production under current conditions (Bringezu et al. 2009).”

• cites Bringezu et al. 2009Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

A negative socio-economic effect which may be associated with iLUC and a shift of agricultural production towards marginal lands is large-scale privatization of lands by most capitalized producers which may lead to displacement of smallholder farmers and whole rural communities.

“A negative socio-economic effect which may be associated with iLUC and a shift of agricultural production towards marginal lands is a large-scale privatization of lands by the most capitalized producers which may lead to the displacement of smallholder farmers and whole rural communities (Howarth et al. 2009;Beringer et al. 2011).”

• cites Howarth et al. 2009Not checked yet

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• cites Beringer et al. 2011Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

In Zimbabwe, on lower grade lands with customary tenure, most land rights are held by traditional leaders, giving very limited land rights to farmers.

“On those lower grade lands there is customary tenure, which gives very limited land rights to farmers; most of the land rights are held by traditional leaders.”

• cites Jingura et al. 2011Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

N2O emissions stimulated by fertiliser application during cultivation offset displaced fossil energy GHG emissions.

“Another argument against bioenergy is that emissions of the potent GHG N 2 O stimulated by fertiliser application during cultivation offset displaced fossil energy GHG emissions.”

• cites Reijnders and Huijbregts 2007Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

May combine two claims.

Conservation grasslands in the USA with higher numbers of plant species had lower biomass yields and a lower ethanol yield per unit biomass compared with sites with fewer species.

“However, contradictory results were documented by Adler et al. (2009) who showed that conservation grasslands in the USA with higher numbers of plant species had lower biomass yields and a lower ethanol yield per unit biomass compared with sites with fewer species.”

• cites Adler et al. (2009)Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Lack of operational tools for full impact assessments is impeding fulfilment of agreed goal of sustainability in bioenergy development.

“The lack of operational tools for full impact assessments is impeding the fulfilment of the agreed goal of sustainability in bioenergy development.”

May combine two claims.

Productive use of degraded lands will often require substantial investment in irrigation, which is a particular concern as irrigation for agriculture already accounts for over 70% of freshwater extraction globally.

“Productive use of degraded lands will often require substantial investment in irrigation which is a particular concern, as irrigation for agriculture already accounts for over 70 % of freshwater extraction globally (Howarth et al. 2009;UNESCO 2009).”

• cites Howarth et al. 2009Not checked yet

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• cites UNESCO 2009Not checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Unchecked market-driven expansion of bioenergy production could culminate in industrial scale bioenergy chains involving thousands of hectares of cultivation centred on large processing and energy conversion plants, with negative environmental and socio-economic consequences.

“Meanwhile, unchecked market-driven expansion of bioenergy production could culminate in industrial scale bioenergy chains involving thousands of hectares of cultivation centred on large processing and energy conversion plants, with negative environmental and socio-economic consequences.”

May combine two claims.

In developed countries wages for bioenergy workers are equivalent to other technical qualified workers, whilst in developing countries workers are often paid below average wages.

“Faaij and Domac (2006) distinguish between high-value employment and low value employment generated by bioenergy supply chains, noting that in developed countries wages for bioenergy workers are equivalent to other technical qualified workers, whilst in developing countries workers are often paid below average wages.”

• cites Faaij and Domac 2006Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

High quality employment can only be financed through high economic viability of a production system.

“Nevertheless, high quality employment can only be financed through high economic viability of a production system.”

May combine two claims.

Small scale decentralised bioenergy cropping on land marginal for food production could be operated at a subsistence level to support local communities in developing countries, but would result in a modest gain in global energy resources only.

“Meanwhile, from a social perspective, small scale decentralised bioenergy cropping on land marginal for food production could be operated at a subsistence level to support local communities in developing countries, as described in relation to the use of crop residues via small-scale gasification (Mendu et al. 2012).This would however result in a modest gain in global energy resources only.”

• cites Mendu et al. 2012Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

In perennial cropping systems, the need for boosting actions may be lower because many processes providing essential services are operating naturally and most perennial systems probably can utilize ecological processes more efficiently than annual systems.

“In perennial cropping systems, the need for boosting actions may be lower, because many of the processes providing these services are operating naturally and most perennial systems probably can utilize ecological processes more efficiently than annual systems (Jordan et al. 2007;Weih et al. 2008).”

• cites Jordan et al. 2007Not checked yet

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• cites Weih et al. 2008Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Pellets can be used in small scale local heating systems as well as in medium size commercial power plants, making pelleting adaptable to a wide size-range of bioenergy enterprises.

“As pellets could be used in small scale local heating systems as well as in medium size commercial power plants, this type of biomass processing is adaptable to a wide size-range of bioenergy enterprises.”

May combine two claims.

Perennial crops offer numerous environmental advantages and provide a wider range of ecosystem services compared with annual crops.

“Perennial crops offer numerous environmental advantages, and provide a wider range of ecosystem services, compared with annual crops.”

• cites Börjesson 1999bNot checked yet

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• cites Weih 2008Not checked yet

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• cites Smeets et al. 2009Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

For industrial-scale bioenergy cropping, lower margins might necessitate cheap labour, which in turn has consequences for social structure of local communities.

“For industrial-scale bioenergy cropping in particular, this might necessitate cheap labour which in turn has consequences for the social structure of the local communities (Giller et al. 2007).”

• cites Giller et al. 2007Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

May combine two claims.

It is likely that perennial biomass crops may often be a better choice than annual crops to achieve reasonable biomass production along with maintaining high cropping security, enhancing energy and GHG balances and maximizing positive effects on biodiversity.

“It is therefore likely that perennial biomass crops may often be a better choice than annual crops to achieve reasonable biomass production along with maintaining high cropping security, enhancing energy and GHG balances and maximizing the positive effects on biodiversity (but see Spangenberg and Settele 2009b).”

• cites Spangenberg and Settele 2009bNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

In that case, bioenergy production might mitigate or even reverse the constraining factors in the respective areas.

“In that case, bioenergy production might mitigate or even reverse the constraining factors in the respective areas.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

If constraints and their implications are assessed properly and accounted for, options for sustainable bioenergy production can be identified and developed.

“In this section we demonstrate that, if the constraints and their implications are assessed properly and accounted for, options for sustainable bioenergy production can be identified and developed.”

May combine two claims.

Unregulated land ownership, fragmented property, low level of education, institutional constraints, low level of marketing opportunities, competition for land or biomass and poor or lack of infrastructure can both hinder land rehabilitation and increase production costs.

“Unregulated land ownership, fragmented property, low level of education, institutional constraints, low level of marketing opportunities, competition for land or biomass and poor or lack of infrastructure can both hinder land rehabilitation and increase production costs (Sugrue 2008).”

• cites Sugrue 2008Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Bioenergy chains based on pelleting of perennial grasses can result in GHG reductions compared with fossil fuel chains when annual cropping or grassland is replaced and net GHG reductions when natural vegetation is considered as the reference land use.

“in GHG reductions compared with fossil fuel chains when annual cropping or grassland is replaced and net GHG reductions when natural vegetation is considered as the reference land use.”

• cites Smeets et al. 2009Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

The high level of uncertainty is due to environmental, economic and social constraints not yet systematically taken into account and due to not making the most out of the potentials and elbowroom offered by novel crops and their production methods.

“The high level of uncertainty is on the one hand due to environmental, economic and social constraints not yet systematically taken into account and on the other hand due to not making the most out of the potentials and the elbowroom offered by novel crops and their production methods.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Relating socioeconomic factors to pressures is complicated by international trade and transboundary pressures.

“However, relating socioeconomic factors to pressures is complicated by international trade and transboundary pressures.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Germany alone, already being a net importer of agricultural land, would require a net additional land area of 2.5-3.4 Mha by 2030, mainly driven by current policy targets on biofuel.

“They found that Germany alone, already being a net importer of agricultural land, would require a net additional land area of 2.5-3.4Mha by 2030, mainly driven by current policy targets on biofuel.”

• cites Bringezu et al. (2009)Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

A bottom-up approach can only be successful if there is sufficient demand, which may require top-down initiatives on the demand side of the bioenergy chain.

“But, a bottom-up approach can only be successful if there is sufficient demand, which may require top-down initiatives on the demand side of the bioenergy chain.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Three principal challenges to achieving yield improvement in biomass crops were identified by Karp and Shield (2008) to be a reduction in thermal threshold in order to extend the growing season, an increase in above ground biomass without depletion in below ground biomass and without causing water depletion.

“Three principal challenges to achieving yield improvement in biomass crops were identified by Karp and Shield (2008) to be a reduction in thermal threshold in order to extend the growing season, an increase in above ground biomass without depletion in below ground biomass and without causing water depletion.”

• cites Karp and Shield (2008)Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Global scale data on land use, land property, climate and soil are often too coarse to provide reliable assessments that could be applied in local or regional land-use planning.

“Global scale data on land use, land property, climate and soil are often too coarse to provide reliable assessments that could be applied in local or regional land-use planning.”

May combine two claims.

Harvesting biomass from brushlands is often beneficial for reducing fire hazards and herbicide usage and restoring wildlife habitats.

“Such harvesting is often beneficial for reducing fire hazards and herbicide usage and restoring wildlife habitats (Anderson group 2011).”

• cites Anderson group 2011Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

These erosion rates were less than one third of rates calculated for annual crops, but twice those calculated for grassland, and over ten times those calculated for deciduous forest.

“These erosion rates were less than one third of the rates calculated for annual crops, but twice those calculated for grassland, and over ten times those calculated for deciduous forest.”

• cites Smeets et al. 2009Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

Local and regional bioenergy chains to generate heat, electricity and CHP would be more advantageous than globalised liquid biofuel chains.

“Local and regional bioenergy chains to generate heat, electricity and CHP would be more advantageous than globalised liquid biofuel chains.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

For most areas of potential study, there is a net import or export of food and energy that requires macroeconomic assumptions to attribute impacts.

“For most areas of potential study, there is a net import or export of food and energy that requires macroeconomic assumptions to attribute impacts.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Estimates of availability and suitability of surplus land for development of energy crop production or use of existing biomass potentials are uncertain.

“So far, estimates of availability and suitability of surplus land for development of energy crop production or use of existing biomass potentials are uncertain.”

May combine two claims.

Approaches have been developed to represent difficult to quantify impacts arising from cultivation of energy crops, such as biodiversity loss or GHG emissions, or integration of market models that quantify displacement and expansion effects, into consequential LCA models.

“Approaches have been developed to represent difficult to quantify impacts arising from the cultivation of energy crops, such as biodiversity loss or GHG emissions (e.g.Fargione et al. 2010;Urban et al. 2011), or integration of market models that quantify displacement and expansion effects (Reinhard and Zah 2009;Reinhard and Zah 2011), into consequential LCA models.”

• cites Fargione et al. 2010Not checked yet

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• cites Urban et al. 2011Not checked yet

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• cites Reinhard and Zah 2009Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Local socio-economic drivers are influenced by socio-economic drivers at regional and global scales that may also affect local biodiversity directly through pollution and GHG emissions.

“In addition, local socio-economic drivers are influenced by socio-economic drivers at regional and global scales that may also affect local biodiversity directly through pollution and GHG emissions (Haberl et al. 2009).”

• cites Haberl et al. 2009Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Woody perennial biomass crops are likely to host diverse microbial communities including mycorrhizas, which can improve both biomass productivity and cropping security, and at the same time increase soil biodiversity.

“For example, woody perennial biomass crops are likely to host diverse microbial communities including mycorrhizas, which can improve both biomass productivity and cropping security, and at the same time increase soil biodiversity (Rooney et al. 2009).”

• cites Rooney et al. 2009Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Switchgrass cultivation on non-degraded grassland has a neutral effect on soil C stocks and a positive effect on biodiversity (MSA) in Argentina, compared with a small negative effect on MSA when displacing natural vegetation.

“Van Dam et al. (2009) report that switchgrass cultivation on non-degraded grassland has a neutral effect on soil C stocks and a positive effect on biodiversity, estimated by 'Mean Species Abundance' (MSA; see http://www.globio.info/what-is- globio/how-it-works/impact-on-biodiversity for definition), in Argentina, compared with a small negative effect on MSA when displacing natural vegetation.”

• cites Van Dam et al. 2009Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

One barrier to development of more sustainable bioenergy chains based on low-input perennial biomass crops is the cost of establishment combined with a long payback period, which could be overcome by diverse forms of financial support.

“One barrier to the development of more sustainable bioenergy chains based on low-input perennial biomass crops is the cost of establishment combined with a long payback period, which could be overcome by diverse forms of financial support (Sherrington et al. 2008).”

• cites Sherrington et al. 2008Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Reliability of data used in some LCAs is called into question.

“Still more work is needed to further improve LCA, in particular as the reliability of data used in some LCAs is called into question (e.g.St. Clair et al. 2008).”

• cites St. Clair et al. 2008Not checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

There is a high potential for Miscanthus cultivation on grassland soils in relation to economic competitiveness and land availability in the Netherlands, but high uncertainty surrounding economic performance of pasture land.

“Van der Hilst (2010) suggest that there is a high potential for Miscanthus cultivation on grassland soils, in relation to economic competitiveness and land availability in the Netherlands, but that there is high uncertainty surrounding the economic performance of pasture land.”

• cites Van der Hilst (2010)Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

A slowdown in introduction of biofuels, at least until adequate and effective controls addressing effects such as displacement are implemented in bioenergy policies, would reduce impact of dedicated energy crops on food commodity prices with detrimental effects upon the poor.

“A slowdown in the introduction of biofuels, at least until adequate and effective controls addressing effects such as displacement are implemented in bioenergy policies, would reduce the impact of dedicated energy crops on for example food commodity prices with their detrimental effects upon the poor (RFA 2008).”

• cites RFA 2008Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Rapid bioenergy development driven by indiscriminate incentives arising from a top-down approach can result in feedstock production that violates land rights and results in poor socio-economic and environmental performance.

“Rapid bioenergy development driven by indiscriminate incentives arising from a top-down approach (e.g.political biofuels targets) can result in feedstock production that violates land rights and results in poor socio-economic and environmental performance.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Encouraging smaller-scale bottom-up development of bioenergy chains can maximise socio-economic benefits, and could also help to achieve a more dispersed pattern of development.

“Encouraging smaller-scale bottom-up development of bioenergy chains instead can maximise socio-economic benefits, and could also help to achieve a more dispersed pattern of development.”

May combine two claims.

Most energy crops currently cultivated are largely undomesticated and at early stages of development, so plant breeding and identification of proper cultivars could significantly improve their productivity when grown under marginal conditions.

“As most of the energy crops currently cultivated are largely undomesticated and at their early stages of development, plant breeding and identification of proper cultivars could significantly improve their productivity when grown under marginal conditions (Zegada-Lizarazu et al. 2010).”

• cites Zegada-Lizarazu et al. 2010Not checked yet

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