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Books
New book
The Biobased
Economy,
http://www.earthscan.co.uk/?tabid=92781&v=192
The impending threats of catastrophic climate change and peak oil
are driving our society towards increased use of
biomass for energy, chemical compounds and other materials - the
beginnings of a biobased economy. As alternative
development models for the biobased economy emerge, we need to
determine potential applications, their perspectives
and possible impacts as well as policies that can steer
technological and market development in such a way that our
objectives are met. Currently, it is still far from clear what will
be the most sustainable routes to follow, which
technologies should be included, and how their development will
affect, and be affected by,
research, public opinion and policy and market forces.
This groundbreaking work, edited by a group of leading researchers
originally from Wageningen Agricultural University
in the Netherlands, sets out to unpick the complex systems in play.
It provides an illuminating framework for how policy
and market players could and should drive the development of a
biobased economy that is effective, sustainable, fair
and cost efficient. Starting with a state-of-the-art overview of
major biobased technologies, including biorefinery and
technologies for the production of biofuels, biogas, biomass
feedstocks for chemistry and bioplastics, it discusses how
different actor groups interact through policy and markets.
Information from case studies is used to demonstrate how
the potential of the biobased economy in different parts of the
world, such as North America, Europe, and emerging
economies like China and Brazil can be realised using research,
debate, policy and commercial development. The result
is an essential resource for all those working in or concerned with
biobased industries, their policy or research.
'Readable, well organized and highly informative - a fine piece of work.'
Ton Runneboom, Chairman, Bio-renewable Resources Platform
'Very easy to read for specialists and non-specialists alike... [the] book is a good source of knowledge for
all who may be interested in learning about the paradigm shift that is in the making and that is likely
to impact our lives significantly.'
Biofuels and Products Research
'Large-scale biomass use is currently hotly debated. The Biobased Economy shows that it is possible to overcome
the risks by introducing more efficient, innovative, uses of biomass, based on the refining of biomass, providing
input for chemicals, feed and energy. These novel routes have the potential to improve the efficiency of biomass
application per unit of land by at least a factor 3. Based on a detailed discussion of the technological, environmental
and policy aspects that are involved in making the transition, the book convincingly shows that a transition to a
biobased economy can facilitate the replacement of fossil fuels by biomass in our societies. This might be an
essential step in managing the problem of climate change.'
Detlef van Vuuren (PhD), Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), and a Lead Author of
the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report
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