Foreword

When it comes to bioeconomy feedstocks, we are often preoccupied with land-based biomass. This makes sense as it is where the overwhelming majority of farming and forestry take place, and the biomass itself is much easier to access (harvesting a field is much less of a logistical operation than harvesting, say, a seaweed bed). As such, bioeconomy processes tend to rely on agriculture and forestry to provide biomass feedstocks, but this may have to change in future. Although we reported last month that there is more available crop area than we thought, there is still not enough land area to provide all the necessary biomass for an ever-increasing population if we wish to maintain the lifestyle we already lead. This is what has led the European Commission’s Scientific Advice Mechanism to look to the oceans. By cultivating aquatic plants and animals, the Mechanism believes that an additional...

Other News this Month Includes:

Policy

• BEIS sets out plans for coal phase-out
• Scottish Forestry Bill met with positive response
• Report recommends compulsory food waste separation in England
• US may change biofuel rules regarding sorghum oil​

Markets

• Japanese demand is a good sign for Canadian pellets
• Hemp sector undergoing a revival
• China showing interest in dandelion rubber
• Latest US pellet production statistics
• Pinnacle Renewable Energy to offer common shares
• Rentech files for bankruptcy​

Research & Development

• Europe's biomass future may lie in the oceans
• Switzerland's untapped biomass resources
• Nestlé develops system to minimise food waste
• Arizona explores options for biomass from tree thinnings​

Wood & Crop

• New high for UK bioenergy crop area
• Drax Biomass pellet plant comes online
• Enviva to build new pellet plants

Other Feedstocks

• Waste-to-Energy rate catching up to recycling in UK

Events

Feedstock Prices