The transition to a bioeconomy requires vast amounts of feedstock to serve a wide range of functionalities in a broad panel of applications in sectors as: construction, textile, paper, automotive, horticulture, and livestock farming. Herbaceous crops and residue streams like flax, hemp, miscanthus, cereal straw, reed and verge grass offer a wide range of characteristics which can serve multiple applications. This report analyses and explores the potential of production and valorisation of herbaceous feedstock in the Netherlands and eventually at regional level.An analysis is made of current production and applications of herbaceous crops and residue streams.Present supply and demand were matched by an evaluation of imports and exports.Circular economy policies, agendas and ambitions were reviewed for relevant topics: climate change, circular bioeconomy, regional development; and at 3 levels: EU, Netherlands and province of Gelderland.Also, important considerations regarding circularity and sustainability aspects of biobased value chains were discussed, with focus on construction and textiles sector.Further, potential future use in products, indication of demanded product volumes for most promising applications, and production of herbaceous feedstock in the Netherlands in 2050 were studied. An exercise to match estimated demand and required production area was performed, taking into consideration typical scale of conversion technologies related to product demand.Subsequently a SWOT analysis for use of each herbaceous feedstock for regional conversion into biobased applications is carried out to identify the main points of attention and needs such as knowledge, infrastructure, collaborations, regulations and policies, technology for the valorisation of different feedstocks for different applications. Finally, recommendations are provided to next possible actions to materialise the transition to regional supply of herbaceous biomass for making bio-based products by local circular value chains.Compared to conventional crops, flax, hemp and miscanthus are relatively small crops in production volumes. Each of them finds its way in a diverse range of applications as mentioned above. And despite the small volumes, flax and hemp feedstock and products are exported and imported for several reasons, circularity and regionality not being an aspect of decisive importance. Cereal straw as a side stream and verge grass and reed as residue streams are produced in much higher quantities, yet they are underutilised from a circular economy perspective and mainly ploughed under directly without prior other use. Using e.g. cereal straw as animal bedding first would retain the soil improving capacity while largely reducing the need to import straw.Towards combatting climate change, establishing circular bioeconomy and developing regional value chains, policy frameworks are set at the 3 levels: EU, Netherlands and province of Gelderland. What is missing, however, is focus on value added specializations and innovations in circular econo...

Dit onderzoek is uitgevoerd door Wageningen Environmental Research en Wageningen Plant Research en gesubsidieerd door het ministerie van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit, in het kader van een Helpdeskvraag (projectnummer KD-2021-041.

This report brings insights into the potential of valorising local lignocellulosic biomass of wood in the province of Gelderland at construction industry. The use of locally available wood can make a crucial contribution to the future mix of raw materials for the building industry. This is supportive of reaching targets to combat climate change and contributes to circular economy by storing carbon and reducing dependence on non-renewable sources.An analysis was made of the current situation in Gelderland, including the current use and availability of biobased materials, and a mapping of the various stakeholders along the value chain. Current policies influencing the use of biobased material in the construction sector were reviewed. Through a series of interviews of different actors along the value chain, the hurdles and gaps faced for the increased implementation of biobased building materials and for increasing the circularity of the building industry were identified. Furthermore, the current and potential availability of wood that can be sustainably sourced from the province of Gelderland was identified through a study with the EFISCEN Space forest resource model, combined with a literature review on the potential of different species to be used in the construction sector. Possibilities of matching the local wood species to the demands of the building applications were analysed. Finally, a SWOT analysis was carried out to identify the main issues and needs such as knowledge, infrastructure, chains, collaborations, policy, technology for the valorisation of local wood in the construction sector. Subsequently recommendations were provided for next possible actions and the role of the different actors in the chain to address these needs.Being the most wooded province of the country and hosting a significant construction industry, makes Gelderland an advantageous spot to explore this opportunity. Furthermore, the knowledge domain in the province and relevant national and provincial policy incentives support the circular economy transition. There is knowledge on biobased products within WUR and other knowledge partners in the province. At the other hand, European policy towards renewable energy, especially Renewable Energy Directive, diverts biomass towards energy production. Moreover, Dutch policies towards nature conservation imposes restrictions on harvesting wood. Furthermore the large scale availability of wood abroad such as North and East Europe, make Dutch wood relatively more expensive. Also the local infrastructure in making wood based building materials is limited. Yet, there is increasing demand for locally produced wood products. Improvement of the supply and utilization of local wood calls for strengthened communication and collaboration between many partners (feedstock suppliers, technology providers, knowledge an testing institutes/centres, industry, cluster organisations and municipalities). Furthermore, there is requirement of investment to stimulate development of necessary infrastructure and inno...