FACCE SURPLUS at the EUBCE 2019 in Lisbon
In May 2019, the 27th edition of the European Biomass Conference & Exhibition (EUBCE) took place in Lisbon, Portugal. The EUBCE is a platform for the collection, exchange and dissemination of scientific and industrial know-how in the field of biomass.
The conference combines science and technology conferences, together with research posters and exhibition stands; it attracts biomass professionals from all over the world, including participants from a wide-ranging background: researchers, engineers, technologists, standards organisations, policy and decision makers plus financing institutions.
- And linking to the biomass community is the reason for FACCE SURPLUS to participate in the conference, says coordinator of the ERA-NET Cofund, Nicolas Tinois.
FACCE SURPLUS has participated in the EUCBE since 2017 and the experience is that this event is a worthy platform for contact between research and industry.
Contact to the industry
The main part of the FACCE SURPLUS research focus on agricultural biomass production. EUBCE provides an opportunity for researchers to link their research with the conversion sector.
- Researchers in FACCE SURPLUS are often engaged in food and agricultural production. Participation in conferences provides cooperation with the conversion industry and other stakeholders in the biomass sector, Nicolas Tinois explains.
The group of stakeholders also includes government representatives, who are interested in new sustainable farming systems that can produce both food and energy in a sustainable manner.
Focus on sustainable production
Several projects in FACCE SURPLUS focus on sustainable production of biomass, and this will be increasingly important in the future.
Nicolas Tinois mentions research in biochar as an important topic for both agriculture and the biomass industry. Via biochar it is possible to use side-products from the biomass conversion to improve food production of the future.
- Read more about the project ABC4Soil: Advanced Biochar Fertilizers for Multiple Ecological Benefits in Soil Conditioning
Another example is research in Miscanthus, which provides options for biomass production on contaminated and marginal land. Biomass from Miscanthus can be used for bioenergy, but also for biobased materials.
- Read more about the project MISCOMAR: Miscanthus biomass options for contaminated and marginal land: quality, quantity and soil interactions
Intense seminar
At the EUBCE 2019, the FACCE SURPLUS project INTENSE held a seminar with focus on preserving good soil quality together with intensified production of biomass. At the seminar, the project team outlined a new vision for a sustainable increase of crop production through improved technical strategies, breeding and adapted management.
