Strengths, Weaknessness, Opportunities and Threats Analysis of Bioenergy Production on Marginal Land

Abstract

Abstract Planting energy crops on marginal land is a potentially attractive way for bioenergy production that retains better land for food crops and offers a new source of income to poor farmers. Although such lands would be less productive and subject to higher risks, their use for bioenergy plantations could have secondary benefits, such as restoration of degraded vegetation, carbon sequestration and local environmental services. In most countries, however, the suitability of this land for sustainable biofuel production is poorly documented. We summarized and defined the marginal land and then applied the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis to diagnose and identify the economic, environmental and social impacts from bioenergy production on marginal land. The results show the strengths include land available, energy crop adaptability and rural economy development, while the weaknesses include economic viability, environmental impacts, and equity and gender concerns. The renewable energy planning target, consideration of food security, biofuel policies and technology development will create the external environment to promote bioenergy production on marginal land, but also rise in fuel price and higher labour cost, natural hazards as well as crisis on financial market will be the threats.