NNFCC has a combined knowledge of the entire bioeconomy,
spanning the range of potential feedstocks; products and co-products,
processing residues and waste. We believe in a circular economy where waste
from one process becomes the feedstock for another and we encourage and
facilitate process integration to deliver this.
Renewable Bio-based Resources
Renewable feedstocks are already playing a central role
within the bioeconomy: 150 million tonnes of forestry products are used to generate
770 TWh of primary energy each year in Europe, with a further 210 TWh from
waste and 12 TWh from agricultural residues.
The key to the cost-competitive and responsible use of
renewable feedstock lies in their efficient use, while taking care of our
society’s simultaneous need for food, feed, energy, fuel and materials.
Re-using and valorising available resources, including waste and residues,
alongside the use of dedicated and sustainable biomass resources is important
to cover society’s needs.
NNFCC expertise
Strategy
Our staff have a complementary and mixed background, with an ability
to deliver strategic and practical farming expertise for growers, processors
and end-users of conventional arable or energy crops and agricultural wastes
and residues.
Land Use Change
Understanding the impacts on land-use and the wider ecosystems
impacts of land-use change as a result of the expanding bioeconomy is crucial
to successful planning, and this is an area where NNFCC excels in providing
advice and guidance to commercial clients and policy makers alike. Staff have
worked extensively with developers, expert groups and European committees to
understand such impacts and to develop methodologies to consider both direct-
and indirect land use change (ILUC) impacts at a local and global scale
respectively.
Resource assessments
Resource assessments or due diligence on sourcing strategies have been
undertaken across all feedstock types for developers and investors, or at a
more strategic level for national and regional Government; identifying and
addressing risks, mitigating actions and providing confidence to enable
projects and policies to get off the ground.
Crops, forestry, residues and wastes
NNFCC has far broader knowledge than just agricultural feedstocks; our portfolio of clients and projects encompass development, integration and improvement of waste management and forestry production systems which are equally important in delivering raw materials to the bioeconomy. For example, NNFCC is currently a partner in the Horizon 2020 Agrocycle project, looking to develop novel business models for valorising agri-food wastes and residues across the supply chain in Europe and China.
Sustainable supply chains
Beyond feedstock production, its handling, storage,
conversion and transport are essential elements to consider in building or enhancing
a sustainable supply chain. NNFCC has supported clients across all bioeconomy
sectors, to ensure raw materials are efficiently and sustainably sourced,
technically compatible, economically robust and sufficiently stable.
NNFCC Projects
NNFCC has delivered many projects relevant to feedstocks, including:
For more reports and our monthly review of news from the feedstocks
sector, see our publications store.