This report is the result of the EIP-AGRI Focus Group (FG) on Sustainable industrial crops, which was launched under the European Innovation Partnership Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI). The Focus Group brought together 18 experts with different backgrounds and experiences – farmers, researchers, advisers, environmental groups, agri-businesses. The main question guiding the discussions was: how can industrial crops contribute to new market opportunities, business models and sustainable farming systems which create value for farmers in the EU, while not replacing food production.
EIP-AGRI Focus Group Sustainable industrial crops: Final report
Industrial crops can have many benefits, including carbon sequestration, displacement of fossil fuels, improving profit margins for farmers, and enhancing utilisation of marginal and contaminated land. They can also help farmers in the transition to organic and sustainable farming, as many crops work well with organic fertilisers using regenerative methods to care for soil. The use of industrial crops as sources of raw materials for traditionally petroleum-based products, like polymers and solvents, will facilitate a shift to more sustainable consumption of resources. The key question of this Focus Group was how industrial crops can contribute to new market opportunities, business models and sustainable farming systems, which create value for farmers in the EU, while not replacing food production. This report presents the outcomes of the Focus Group discussions, along with suggestions for Operational Groups and areas for further research.