The Environmental Impact of Agriculture and Energy Use

Ideas for a Roadmap for Biomass Technologies

Staur Gjestegård, Stange, NorgeAugust 2004

On the way to our roadmap

• Today’s realities• Tomorrow’s needs• Our role

World Population Growth 1750-2100

Source: Population Reference Bureau

10

8

6

4

2

1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 2050 2100

Bill

ion

s

Developing Countries

Industrial Countries

U.S. Dependence on Foreign Oil

Saudi Arabia 26%Iraq 11%Kuwait 10%Iran 9%UAE 8%Venezuela 6%Russia 5%Libya 3%Mexico 3%China 3%Nigeria 2%U.S. 2%

U.S. 26%Japan 7%China 6%Germany 4%Canada 4%Russia 3%Brazil 3%S. Korea 3%France 3%India 3%Mexico 3%Italy 2%

Have OilHave Oil Use OilUse Oil

The U.S. uses more than the next 5 highestconsuming nations combined.

The U.S. uses more than the next 5 highestconsuming nations combined.

Updated March 2003. Source: International Energy Annual 2001 (EIA), Tables 11.4 and 11.10.

Changes in Atmospheric ConcentrationCO2, CH4, and N20 – A Thousand Year History

Source: IPCC Third Assessment Report (2001)

Atm

osph

eric

con

cent

ratio

n N

2O (

pbb)

310

290

270

2501000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Atm

osph

eric

con

cent

ratio

n C

O2

(ppm

)

360

340

320

300

280

260

1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Atm

osph

eric

con

cent

ratio

n C

H4

(ppb

)

1750

1500

1250

1000

750

1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

The nature of value, and the value of nature

Vision - macro

Vision - nano

Implications of the Genomic Revolution

•The Molecular Economy

•Carbohydrate

•Lipid

•Protein

•Biopolymers

Harvesting for the carbohydrate economy

Starting points for our roadmap

• Our meeting last year and again today– The Environmental Impact of Agriculture and

Energy Use: How New Technologies, Including Biotechnology, Can Provide Sustainable Solutions

• University of Minnesota Initiative in Renewable Energy & Environment

Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment

MISSION: To promote statewide economic development, sustainable, healthy, and diverse ecosystems, and national energy

security through development of bio-based and other renewable resources and

processes.

www.iree.umn.edu

Opportunities

• Use renewable resources for CO2-neutral production of energy and materials.

• Move closer to real-time use of photosynthesis.

Goals and objectives

• Leadership in research and demonstration.• Create jobs.• Promote the hydrogen economy.• Use renewables to replace fossil fuels for

– energy – chemicals – materials

• Foster communication and collaboration.

IREE core values

• Leveraging resources

• Partnerships

• Impact

University of Minnesota Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment

Executive Committee

Working Group

Director/Assoc. Director

Cluster Leader Council

External Adv. Board

Policy, Economics, andEcosystems

Conservation andEfficient Energy

Systems

Bioenergy andBioproducts

Hydrogen

Starting points for our roadmap

• Our meeting last year and again today– The Environmental Impact of Agriculture and Energy

Use: How New Technologies, Including Biotechnology, Can Provide Sustainable Solutions

• University of Minnesota Initiative in Renewable Energy & Environment

• Roadmap for Biomass Technologies in the United States, December 2002

– www.nrel.gov

Roadmap for Biomass Technologies in the US: Vision

• Biopower– Double each decade through 2030

• Biobased Transportation Fuels– 0.5% (now); 4% (2010); 10% (2020); 20%

(2030)

• Biobased Products– 5% (now); 12% (2010); 18% (2020); 25%

(2030)

Research, Development & Policy Needs to Achieve Goals

• Feedstock production– Biotechnology, genetics and plant physiology– Agronomic practices– Feedstock handling

Research, Development & Policy Needs to Achieve Goals

• Processing and conversion– Biorefinery concept– Thermochemical conversion– Bioconversion– Enabling technologies

Research, Development & Policy Needs to Achieve Goals

• Product uses and distribution– Biorefinery development and demonstration

projects

Research, Development & Policy Needs to Achieve Goals

• Public policy measures– Incentives– Education– Resource supply– Environmental measures– Standards and codes– Financial assistance

Starting points for our roadmap

• Our meeting last year and again today– The Environmental Impact of Agriculture and Energy Use: How

New Technologies, Including Biotechnology, Can Provide Sustainable Solutions

• University of Minnesota Initiative in Renewable Energy & Environment (www.iree.umn.edu)

• Roadmap for Biomass Technologies in the United States, December 2002 (www.nrel.gov)

• Multifunctional Agriculture - the case of Norway• Norwegian Forests - Policy and Resources

Outcomes for our partnership

• By tomorrow– Vision– Roadmap– Mechanisms for success

• By next year

• Five years from now