IEA Task42

Lead Institute AT Institute of Agricultural Technology

Task42

Biorefineries in a future BioEconomy

The aim of Task42 is to contribute to the development and implementation of sustainable biorefineries – as part of highly efficient, preferably zero waste, value chains – synergistically producing biobased Food and Non-Food Products as key element for a global circular BioEconomy.

Background and Objective

Biorefining is the optimal way for large-scale sustainable use of biomass in the BioEconomy. By accelerating the sustainable production and use of biomass, particularly in a biorefinery approach, the socio-economic and environmental impacts will be optimized resulting in more cost-competitive production of food and feed ingredients, biobased products (chemicals, materials) and bioenergy (fuels, power, heat), reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and efficient use of available resources (raw materials, minerals, water).

Approach

To open up the biorefinery-related potential, international system and technology development together with industry is a necessity. Joint international priorities and RD&D-programmes between industry, research institutes, universities, governmental bodies and NGOs are necessary; whereas identification of market introduction strategies together with industry will be inevitably for the creation of a proper RD&D-framework.