Fodder legumes for green biorefineries: A perspective for sustainable agricultural production systems

Abstract

Peak oil is forcing our society to shift from fossil to renewable resources. However, such renewable resources are also scarce, and they too must be used in the most efficient and sustainable way possible. Biorefining is a concept that represents both resource efficiency (waste reduction) and sustainability. This approach initiates a cascade use, which means food and feed production before material use, and an energy-related use at the end of the value-added chain. However, sustainability must already start in the fields, on the agricultural side, where the industrially-used biomass is produced. The highest premise of the study was to develop an agricultural production system that is more sustainable than existing ones. Fodder legumes, produced in expanded crop rotations are cultivated. They have a very positive environmental impact in agricultural production systems. They are used as bio-industrial feedstock and fodder in the Green Biorefinery approach. Following evidence that both intermediate products are suitable in the biorefining process, a cost-benefit analysis, comparing different production scenarios on a farm, showed that for large farm sizes in particular, the potential profits are high. Therefore, all three pillars of sustainability in agricultural production systems can be improved.