Title: Life cycle assessment of energy crop production with special attention to the establishment of regional biomass utilisation systems

Authors: Susumu Uchida; Kiyotada Hayashi; Mitsuru Gau; Tsutomu Kajiyama; Shigekiyo Shirasawa; Hiroyuki Takahashi; Yoshifumi Terajima; Makoto Matsuoka; Masaru Yoshinaga

Addresses: National Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation, 3–1–1 Kannondai, Tsukubashi, Ibarakiken, 305–8666, Japan. ' National Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation, 3–1–1 Kannondai, Tsukubashi, Ibarakiken, 305–8666, Japan. ' National Agricultural Research Center for Kyushu Okinawa Region, National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation, 2421 Suya, Koshishi, Kumamotoken, 861–1192, Japan. ' Hokkaido Research Organisation Tokachi Agricultural Experiment Station, 9–2 Shinseiminami, Memurocho, Kasaigun, Hokkaido, 082–0081, Japan. ' Kagoshima Prefectural College of Agriculture, 1800 Wada, Fukiagecho, Hiokishi, Kagoshimaken, 899–3311 Japan. ' National Agricultural Research Center for Hokkaido Region, National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation, 9–4 Shinseiminami, Memurocho, Kasaigun, Hokkaido, 082–0081, Japan. ' Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, 1091–1 Maezato–Kawarabaru, Ishigakishi, Okinawaken, 907–0002, Japan. ' National Agricultural Research Center for Kyushu Okinawa Region, National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation, 2421 Suya, Koshishi, Kumamotoken, 861–1192, Japan. ' National Agricultural Research Center for Kyushu Okinawa Region, National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation, 6651–2 Yokoichicho, Miyakonojoshi, Miyazakiken, 885–0091, Japan

Abstract: We conducted a life cycle assessment of energy crop production for bioethanol to clarify the potentialities of biomass utilisation systems in Japan, focusing on cumulative fossil energy demand and global warming potential. Their reductions were evaluated under two scenarios; one was improving cultivation technologies and breeding of new crop varieties, and the other was setting up of regional biomass utilisation systems, in which biomass resources from various industries were utilised mutually and effectively. It was proved that the improvement in cultivation technologies and the establishment of regional biomass utilisation systems have large potential for saving fossil fuel resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Although these results largely depend on scenarios including the lifetime and coverage area of agricultural machinery, and types of biomass utilisation, it was concluded that substitution of petrol by bioethanol converted from these energy crops has considerable potential for rendering our society more sustainable.

Keywords: LCA; life cycle assessment; life cycle analysis; ecobalance; energy crops; regional biomass utilisation; bioethanol; cumulative energy demand; crop breeding; cultivation technologies; global warming; climate change; sugar beet; sorghum; sweet potatoes; sugarcane; Japan; fossil energy demand; fossil fuels; new crop varieties; fuel resources; greenhouse gas emissions; agricultural machinery; petrol; foresight; innovation policies; agriculture; sustainability; sustainable development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFIP.2012.046108

International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, 2012 Vol.8 No.2/3, pp.143 - 172

Published online: 21 Nov 2014 *

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