[{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022republish_modal_form\u0022\u003E\u003Cform class=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form ecl-form\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 action=\u0022\/en\/article\/modal\/6311\u0022 method=\u0022post\u0022 id=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 accept-charset=\u0022UTF-8\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHorizon articles can be republished for free under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EYou must give appropriate credit. We ask you to do this by:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 1) Using the original journalist\u0027s byline\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 2) Linking back to our original story\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 3) Using the following text in the footer: This article was originally published in \u003Ca href=\u0027#\u0027\u003EHorizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003ESee our full republication guidelines \u003Ca href=\u0027\/horizon-magazine\/republish-our-stories\u0027\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EHTML for this article, including the attribution and page view counter, is below:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textarea form-item-body-content js-form-item-body-content ecl-form-group ecl-form-group--text-area form-no-label ecl-u-mv-m\u0022\u003E\n \n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Ctextarea data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 aria-describedby=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 id=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 name=\u0022body_content\u0022 rows=\u00225\u0022 cols=\u002260\u0022 class=\u0022form-textarea ecl-text-area\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAll products based on fossil fuels could be made from biomass \u2013 Dr Philippe Mengal\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUsing biological material - biomass - to produce energy or materials is considered to be a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, but is there competition between this and food production?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Biomass is living raw material that is produced directly or indirectly by photosynthesis. Biomass can include material from animals, vegetables or microorganisms. Typically, it\u2019s municipal waste, cereals, by-products from the agri-food industry or forestry biomass.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u2018One of the priorities for us is to avoid competition between food and, for example, biofuels. This was an issue with the first generation of biorefineries that used edible biomass. We target second-generation biorefineries that use non-edible material such as straw, forest-based biomass and municipal waste. We also strive to increase crop yield, to make use of marginal land, to reduce reliance on fertiliser and to reduce imports of soy as a feedstock for animals.\u2019\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is a biorefinery and what is their potential importance for rural economies?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018A biorefinery is a kind of factory that transforms biomass into end products such as bioplastics. The term refinery comes from the petrochemical industry where crude oil is processed into a multitude of useful products. Biorefineries allow us to use biomass that would not be used otherwise \u2013 we are extracting value from agricultural by-products which would previously have gone to waste.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018For us, biorefineries are the second stage of the value chain: first comes biomass production, then the biorefinery, and finally the use of the end product. Biorefineries are often located in rural areas close to the site of biomass production. This brings clear logistical advantages.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECould you give an example of products that could be made using biomass? \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Potentially, all products that are produced today based on fossil fuels could be made from biomass. One of the objectives of the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking is to help Europe embrace the potential of biofuel, biomaterials and other biochemicals which can replace dependence on fossil fuels. It should be noted that bio-based products are already part of our daily lives \u2013 silk, cotton and materials based on wood or natural fibres are all produced by existing bio-based industries.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECan plastics and packaging be produced in a more sustainable way?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018They certainly can. One of our flagship projects is a biorefinery located in Sardinia which uses cardoon oil to produce bioplastics. The plant is already making plastic shopping bags for the Italian market. It is a former oil refinery and uses a kind of thistle grown on semi-arid land, so we are adding real value there.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E(Article continues after the image)\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cfigure role=\u0022group\u0022 class=\u0022@aligncenter@\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cimg alt=\u0022A biorefinery in Sardinia is using a thistle-like plant called cardoon to make plastic shopping bags. Image credit: Flickr \/ Martin LaBar\u0022 height=\u0022460\u0022 src=\u0022\/research-and-innovation\/sites\/default\/files\/hm\/cardoon.jpg\u0022 title=\u0022A biorefinery in Sardinia is using a thistle-like plant called cardoon to make plastic shopping bags. Image credit: Flickr \/ Martin LaBar\u0022 width=\u0022600\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022tw-italic tw-mb-4\u0022\u003EA biorefinery in Sardinia is using a thistle-like plant called cardoon to make plastic shopping bags. Image credit: Flickr \/ Martin LaBar\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\n\u003C\/figure\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy is the BBI JU helping to set up flagship biorefinery plants? \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018For us, it\u2019s about funding the projects in order to de-risk the investment. In other words, because it\u2019s a public-private partnership, it is easier to attract private investment when there is also financial and practical support from Europe.\u2019\u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003EHow else are you supporting bio-based industries?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003E\u2018We want to create one million jobs in Europe by 2030.\u2019\u0026amp;nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EDr Philippe Mengal, Executive Director, BBI JU\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We fund research into technologies at different levels of maturity. In some cases, we aim to fill the gap where technologies are not yet developed or not efficient enough to be deployed at a commercial scale. We also fund demonstration projects and flagship projects where the technology is mature but its value needs to be demonstrated.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECan bio-based industries help tackle climate change?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018One objective of the BBI JU is to enable European industry to replace 30 % of fossil-oil products with bio-based products. This would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and is more sustainable. The bio-based industry is secured by nature. Biomass is the best way to transform, reuse and recycle carbon dioxide.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat can be done to support the development and uptake of biofuels?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E \u2018It is absolutely key that the public realises that second-generation biofuels are based on non-edible biomass \u2013 there is no competition with food. But on top of this we want to boost consumer acceptance by explaining that these products are produced in a more sustainable and credible way. For the industry itself, certainty regarding future regulation will be an important determinant of investment.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow do you see the European bioeconomy developing?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Today, the bioeconomy has a turnover of EUR 2.1 trillion and supports 22 million jobs \u2013 that\u2019s 10 % of total employment in Europe. That includes the food and beverage sectors. The bio-based industry excluding agriculture and forestry, is worth around EUR 600 million.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Looking ahead, we want to create one million jobs in Europe by 2030, (of which) 80 % will be created in rural areas. It is already happening. For example, the project in Sardinia directly generates 60 jobs for every 1 000 tonnes of bio-based plastic it produces so the scope for job creation is considerable.\u2019\u0026nbsp;\u003Cdiv class=\u0022moreinfoblock\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ch3\u003EEnsuring sustainability\u003C\/h3\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EThe EU\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/legal-content\/EN\/ALL\/?uri=CELEX:32009L0028\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERenewable Energy Directive\u003C\/a\u003E requires the EU to produce at least 20 % its energy from renewables, including biomass, by 2020.\u0026nbsp;However, in order to benefit from the potential of biomass to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, every step along the chain from biomass production to the end product, must be sustainable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe EU has issued \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/energy\/en\/topics\/renewable-energy\/biomass\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Enon-binding recommendations for the sustainability of biomass\u003C\/a\u003E. These include a ban on the use of biomass from land converted from forest, a requirement that biofuels emit at least 35 % less greenhouse gas than fossil fuels, and a push to monitor the origin of all biomass consumed in the EU.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2014, the EU published a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/energy\/sites\/ener\/files\/2014_biomass_state_of_play_.pdf\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ereport into the state of play of biomass\u003C\/a\u003E used for electricity, heating and cooling, and will continue to closely monitor the use of biomass in the coming years. It plans to develop an improved biomasss policy for the post-2020 period.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/textarea\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003Cdiv id=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 class=\u0022ecl-help-block description\u0022\u003E\n Please copy the above code and embed it onto your website to republish.\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cinput autocomplete=\u0022off\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022form-gcl9uwa-x3wox-jwvapw0nlqde5ub0wo9vl1rjwpa\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_build_id\u0022 value=\u0022form-gCl9uWa__-x3WOx-JWvaPw0nLqDe5uB0wo9Vl1RjwPA\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Cinput data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_id\u0022 value=\u0022modal_form_example_modal_form\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003C\/form\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E","dialogOptions":{"width":"800","modal":true,"title":"Republish this content"}}]