International workshop

" Optimal land use for production BioEnergy without jeopardy of food self-sufficiency and food security"

IUNG PIB Pulawy, September 28-30, 2011

organized within the PROFICIENCY project

On September 28-30, the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute held an international workshop "Optimal land use for production BioEnergy without jeopardy of food self-sufficiency and food security". Workshop was organised within the Proficiency project by the Department of Agrometeorology and Applied Informatics.

The aim of the workshop was to present the results of the modelling capability of producing renewable energy in rural areas and the selection of energy crops. The specificity of agricultural production in the regions as well as the effects of changes in agricultural land use for renewable energy production was discussed. The changes of land use may be beneficial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration in the soil. They may also lead to changes in biodiversity and have an impact on water management.

The introductory part of the workshop embraced presentations of prof. Stanisław Krasowicz on the IUNG activity and of prof. Barbara Maliszewska-Kordybach on the project PROFICIENCY. The special guest of the workshop was Kazimierz Żmuda – Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Markets, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. His lectures undertook problems regarding Agriculture and Energy Policy in Poland.

An important points of the workshop were presentations on the assessment of biomass resources in Poland and Europe, as well as discussions on the possibility of increased production and more efficient use of agricultural biomass for energy production. Risk and reduction of risk in bioenergy production was a subject of next section followed by environmental aspects of the implementation of energy crops.

The participants of the workshop (over 70 persons) represented six European countries: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Sweden and Poland.