Description
We argue that research and development of grassland-derived bioenergy feedstock (GBF) has focused unduly on dedicated monospecific biomass systems to the detriment of more stable multiple-use multispecies grasslands. This has retarded GBF adoption as a viable, sustainable contribution to renewable energy production in North America. We hypothesize that focusing on multiple-use GBFs will foster greater feedstock availability for nascent renewable energy generation while minimizing financial risk to grassland husbandry during market transitions from current grazing systems to more flexible business models. Our hypothesis is that source and demand are more likely to develop simultaneously under less risky multiple-use grassland management. We review what little research exists detailing such multiple-use systems that include GBF as a major component. We propose that more federal and private sector research funding should focus on perennial forage legumes and bunchgrasses for multiple uses including forage, bioenergy, grassland restoration, wildlife, and ecosystems services such as hydrology, carbon capture and biodiversity. These data cover both native and introduced species in cultivated pastures as well as managed rangeland and native grassland. We conclude that more research effort should be focused on multiple-use GBF in order to identify individual species, mixtures and ecosystems that provide flexibility in the face of unpredictable grassland environments and volatile energy markets.
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Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Transitioning to Multiple-use Polyculture Grassland-derived Bioenergy Feedstock Systems
We argue that research and development of grassland-derived bioenergy feedstock (GBF) has focused unduly on dedicated monospecific biomass systems to the detriment of more stable multiple-use multispecies grasslands. This has retarded GBF adoption as a viable, sustainable contribution to renewable energy production in North America. We hypothesize that focusing on multiple-use GBFs will foster greater feedstock availability for nascent renewable energy generation while minimizing financial risk to grassland husbandry during market transitions from current grazing systems to more flexible business models. Our hypothesis is that source and demand are more likely to develop simultaneously under less risky multiple-use grassland management. We review what little research exists detailing such multiple-use systems that include GBF as a major component. We propose that more federal and private sector research funding should focus on perennial forage legumes and bunchgrasses for multiple uses including forage, bioenergy, grassland restoration, wildlife, and ecosystems services such as hydrology, carbon capture and biodiversity. These data cover both native and introduced species in cultivated pastures as well as managed rangeland and native grassland. We conclude that more research effort should be focused on multiple-use GBF in order to identify individual species, mixtures and ecosystems that provide flexibility in the face of unpredictable grassland environments and volatile energy markets.
