Bioeconomy Monitoring II

Background and Objective

In the 1st phase of the establishment of a systematic bioeconomy monitoring, we created the methodological basis for the quantification of the bio-based resource base, associated sustainability effects and carried out an initial monitoring. In this project, we want to further develop and supplement the methodological concept.

With regard to the monitoring of the bio-based resource base, we want to link residual material and by-product flows with agricultural, forestry and fisheries material flows in order to demonstrate the extent and efficiency of residual material and cascade use. In addition, we want to extent the monitoring and quantify major import commodities such as soy, pulp or meat and trace them back to their origin.

Complementary to the quantification of import commodities we aim to quantify and assess sustainability effects associated with major import commodities in their countries of origin. As a best practice example we will show for commodities from Uruguay that a complementary bioeconomy monitoring approach in exporting countries provides useful information to differentiate between more sustainably produced and less sustainably produced commodities.

Approach

In detail, we want to proceed as follows:

• Linking bio-based with residue material flows
• Monitoring of substitution effects, cascade use, resource efficiency
• Monitoring of import commodities
• Best practice examples for the identification and quantification of more or less sustainably produced import commodities
• Updating material flow analyses
• Updating quantification of material flow based and sectoral sustainability effects

Data and Methods

The main data base for sectoral and material flow quantifications are data and results used in and derived during the first bioeconomy monitoring period. Additionally, we use updated official statistics, empirical and market observation studies.

For identification of biomass imports we apply the Forward-Tracing method and we will further develop and improve it.

For evaluating resource efficiency, substitution effects and cascade uses we screen the existing literature. Based on the screening results we develop definitions, indicators and methods which are applicable in long-term monitoring.

Our Research Questions

• How has biomass use developed in Germany?
• How big is the bioeconomy in Germany?
• Which import commodities are of highest importance for German bioeconomy and which effects have imports at their counrties of origin?
• How can we measure resource efficiency, substitution effects and cascade use?