Development perspectives of the biobased economy: a review.

This paper provides an outline of the biobased economy, its perspectives for agriculture and, more particularly, for development purposes. Possibilities of development of biobased products, advanced biofuels, and viable and effi cient biorefi nery concepts are explored. The paper lists non-fuel bioproducts (e.g., chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biopolymers) and presents basic principles and development options for biorefi neries that can be used to generate them alongside biofuels, power, and by-products. One of the main challenges is to capture more value from existing crops without compromising the needs and possibilities of small-scale, less endowed farmers. Biobased products offer the most development perspectives, combining large market volumes with medium to high price levels. Consequently, the most can be expected from products like fi ne chemicals, lubricants, and solvents. In addition, biosolar cells can help to relax pressures on biomass production systems while decentralized production chains can serve local needs for energy, materials, and nutrients as their requirement for viable economic development are linked to larger markets. Research challenges include development of such production and market chains, and of biosolar cells and selection of model crops that offer perspectives for less favored producers and underdeveloped rural areas. J.W.A. Langeveld, Biomass Research, P.O. Box 247, 6700 AE, Wageningen, the Netherlands; J. Dixon, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Bruce 38 Thynne St, Fern Hill Park, Canberra ACT 2617, Australia; J.F. Jaworski, formerly of Life Science Industries Branch, Industry Canada, Ottawa, Canada. Received 23 Sept. 2009. *Corresponding author (hans@biomassresearch.eu). Abbreviations: 1,3 PDO, 1,3-Propanediol; DDGS, Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles; DME, Dimethylether; EU, European Union; GAP, Good Agricultural Practices; GHG, Greenhouse gas; MDG, Millennium Development Goal; MFC, Microbial Fuel Cell; PET, Polyethylene terephthalate; PHA, Polyhydroxyalkanoate; PLA, Polylactic acid; R&D, Research and development. Published in Crop Sci. 50:S-142–S-151 (2010). doi: 10.2135/cropsci2009.09.0529 Published online 27 Jan. 2010. © Crop Science Society of America | 677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Permission for printing and for reprinting the material contained herein has been obtained by the publisher.