The report additionally means that consuming much less meat might assist
11 March 2025
3 minute learn
Germany wants 2.8 instances as a lot agricultural land as is offered in its personal nation to fulfill demand. That is proven in a brand new report coordinated by the Middle for Environmental Methods Analysis (CESR) and revealed by the College of Kassel. Nonetheless, there are additionally constructive developments.
The report presents new information on the efficiency of the German bioeconomy. It exhibits how a lot biomass from agriculture, forestry and fisheries was produced, traded and consumed for numerous functions in 2020. The consequences on jobs, biodiversity and the potential of the round economic system, amongst different issues, have been additionally assessed.
Biomass use within the bioeconomy is changing into smarter. For instance, over the past three years there was a major shift from typical biofuels to superior biofuels constructed from waste, residues and by-products. On the similar time, 80% of biofuels are imported. Competitors for waste and residues is rising as progressive makes use of for e.g. textiles and chemical compounds are additionally being discovered. This factors to one of many largest challenges for coverage makers in implementing the bioeconomy that the report identifies: managing trade-offs. Synergies and contradictions between completely different utilization choices should due to this fact be rigorously examined, for instance between materials and vitality use, based on the report.
No balanced growth of the bioeconomy but
The sustainable availability of biomass relies on the environmental impression and the chances for financial exercise inside ecological limits. A balanced bioeconomy according to international sustainability objectives requires a stability between consumption and sustainable provide.Â
Greater than 60% of the agricultural land used for German consumption is grassland and is used to feed livestock to fulfill the excessive meat consumption, which is at the least thrice greater than beneficial. 16% of German water consumption for the bioeconomy comes from areas with excessive water shortage, primarily the Center East. As well as, rising forest disturbances might result in harvest deficits for coniferous species within the medium time period. Cautious planning is due to this fact important to safe future provides and obtain sustainability objectives. This consists of the environment friendly, enough, honest and protected use of biomass.
Choices for enchancment and future prospects
The environmental footprints have been modeled each on the premise of a reference situation and within the type of a easy “what-if” situation as much as the 12 months 2050. The reference situation extrapolates the tendencies of a very powerful influencing components of the bioeconomy. It exhibits that a number of footprints lower, partly on account of the vitality transition and the gradual decline in meat consumption. Nonetheless, a shift in weight-reduction plan might additional contribute to reinforcing these tendencies.Â
If meat consumption per capita in Germany have been diminished to 300 grams per week, the agricultural biomass footprint, the agricultural land footprint and the local weather footprint may very well be diminished by 13%, 14% and 17% respectively in 2050 in comparison with the reference situation. This situation takes into consideration the suggestions of the German Vitamin Society.
Holistic view of the bioeconomy
The report presents numerous indicators, tendencies and eventualities on the German bioeconomy and considers numerous facets of sustainability. The mix of various strategies and analyses creates a systemic perspective on the bioeconomy. By taking a complete view, policymakers can keep away from shifting issues. In the long run, the report is meant to function a foundation for the additional growth of standard monitoring of the bioeconomy in Germany.
