The Role of Sequential Cropping and Biogasdoneright™ in Enhancing the Sustainability of Agricultural Systems in Europe

Francesca Magnolo,Stijn Speelman,Erik Meers,Guido Bezzi,Harmen Dekker,Mieke Decorte,Lorella Rossi

doi:10.3390/agronomy11112102

Abstract

Sequential cropping in the Biogasdoneright™ (BDR™) system in Italy has recently gained attention to combine food and renewable energy production in a sustainable way, as well as for carbon sequestration. However, little is known on the potential to expand the practice in other regions of Europe. In this paper, sequential crop calendars were developed for different EU climate regions, and the EU biomethane potential of the anaerobic digestion (AD) of sequential crops was estimated for a Conservative_Scenario and a Maximum_Scenario, assuming different percentages of primary crop land dedicated to the practice and biogas yields. A total EU biomethane potential of 46 bcm/yr and 185 bcm/yr was estimated from the AD of sequential crops in the two scenarios, respectively, and the Continental region registered the highest potential compared to the other regions. The additional benefits of the combination of sequential cropping with other agricultural conservation practices and digestate use included in BDR™ systems were also discussed. In conclusion, the paper shows that with appropriate innovations in crop management, sequential cropping could be applied in different agroclimatic regions of Europe, contributing to climate and renewable energy targets.

Highlights

Agriculture is at the heart of the most important global challenges mankind is currently facing and will face in the future, including food security, environmental degradation, economic development and climate change [1]
This paper showed that tailored solutions to different agroclimatic conditions in Europe can be found in terms of crop management to expand the application of sequential cropping
In order to increase the yields of sequential crops, pre-swelling of the sequential crop and quick seeding after the harvest of the winter cereal were proposed as solutions

Summary

Introduction

Agriculture is at the heart of the most important global challenges mankind is currently facing and will face in the future, including food security, environmental degradation, economic development and climate change [1]. In order to reach the climate-neutral goal of the Green Deal by 2050 and cut European GHG emissions by 55% by 2030 [6], while establishing a sustainable and circular bioeconomy [7], agricultural practices need to increasingly adapt to play a positive role in tackling climate change while concurrently providing quality food, materials and sustainable bioenergy. To achieve this aim, the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) [8] seeks to create the necessary conditions for farmers to use natural resources prudently, producing food while simultaneously protecting nature and safeguarding biodiversity

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