Quick scan on sustainable biomass supply-chains

For: Solidaridad

[Sep – Dec 2019]

Solidaridad is an development NGO that works towards sustainable production of various agro-based commodities. In particular, the organization aims at strengthening the social conditions and structures of smallholders at the beginning of supply chains.

This project was about exploring in a quick scan the potential of biomass residues and side streams in a selection of Solidarid’s supply-chains in different regions, farming systems. The aim was to identify implementable and sustainable practices at different levels: the farm, the local community / region, the supply-chain, the factory. Because these practices are to be implemented in rural areas, the solutions should aim to be low tech and with low costs so that they can better benefit producers and communities directly.

The quick scan identified concrete opportunities on the landscape level to integrate biomass production for local energy needs, for biomass feedstock supply chains and that strengthen local biodiversity and soil quality enhancement. The project has provided three concrete examples in the supply chains of palm oil, coffee and cocoa. Remarkable outcomes were how much biomass residues can be made available without impacting other functions like food production and also how much opportunities the landscape level offered for enhancing biomass supply while fostering forests and current land and water use.

studio Gear Up executed this project in collaboration with Hans Langeveld of Biomass Research.

Team involved: Loes Knotter, Sofia Rosero, Eric van den Heuvel

The final report can be downloaded here.

Related

High blends of renewable fuels for the heavy-duty fleet in the Netherlands

KiM Netherlands Institute for Transport Policy Analysis (Kennisinstituut voor Mobiliteit – KiM) commissioned studio Gear Up to conduct research to explore the options for high-blends of renewable fuels in the heavy-duty fleet. This research served as input for KiM’s (2025) report: Renewable fuels in high blends in road freight transport , which provides recommendations for Dutch policy makers aiming to shape climate action in the road sector. The study sets out to explore alternative fuel options available to heavy-duty vehicles given that there is “uncertainty about the pace of truck electrification”. 

Read More

sGU recommendations for practical certification guidelines intermediate crops

Intermediate crops are crops planted and harvested between main crops in a crop rotation scheme. Their development, on top of existing food and feed farm output, offer additional volumes of feedstocks for the bioeconomy without requiring additional land. studio Gear Up assessed the benefits of intermediate crops, the bottlenecks for their development and deployment and provided recommendations for certification of these crops in the frame of the Renewable Energy Directive.

Read More

Consequences of ETS2 implementation on A-B-C deliveries of renewable fuels

Our research for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management shows that the introduction of the new ETS2 emissions trading system can have important consequences for these constructions. Because these A-B-C supply constructions play a major role in the Dutch fuel market, this is expected to make the use of A-B-C supplies less attractive for fuel suppliers, with market shift and concentration likely to result. 

Read More
Scroll to Top