Land competition resulting from biogas production

Biogas is used as a renewable alternative to natural gas, providing environmental benefits due to its comparatively low greenhouse gas emissions. Biogas can be produced from various organic wastes and crops. In the case of crop fermentation, food security issues arise due to increased competition with food production. If the cultivation of energy crops leads to land-use change, biogas production may also be associated with ecosystem degradation.

Nº 70
  • Climate & Atmosphere
  • Energy Emission Reduction
  • Promotion of Biofuels
some attempts made
past case
Region-1
Region-2
Region-3
Region-4
ongoing case
no attempts made

Yes

Land competition resulting from biogas production

Biogas is used as a renewable alternative to natural gas, providing environmental benefits due to its comparatively low greenhouse gas emissions. Biogas can be produced from various organic wastes and crops. In the case of crop fermentation, food security issues arise due to increased competition with food production. If the cultivation of energy crops leads to land-use change, biogas production may also be associated with ecosystem degradation.

In Slovakia, there has been a significant increase in the cultivation of maize silage as an energy crop for biogas production. This increase in maize production has coincided with a decline in livestock production, as agricultural land previously used for livestock production is now being used to grow maize for biogas production. In addition, the growing demand for maize has led to an increase in food prices in Slovakia, raising concerns about potential future food insecurity in the country.

  • Frustrated the efforts to address the initial problem
  • Cascading (far-reaching effects following each other)

Lajdova Z., Lajda J., Kapusta J., Bielik P. (2016). Consequences of maize cultivation intended for biogas production. Agricultural Economy, 62, 543–549. doi: 10.17221/209/2016-AGRICECON.

Wicki, L., Naglis-Liepa, K., Filipiak, T., Parzonko, A., & Wicka, A. (2022). Is the Production of Agricultural Biogas Environmentally Friendly? Does the Structure of Consumption of First- and Second-Generation Raw Materials in Latvia and Poland Matter? Energies, 15(15), 5623. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15155623

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