EIMA Energy: biomass and ecological transition

A workshop on the H2020 project 'BRANCHES', which enhances good practices in this bioenergy sector, was held as part of the International Exhibition of Agricultural Machinery in Bologna

The awareness of the seriousness of the situation, highlighted by the recent worrying increase in extreme climate phenomena and the exponential growth in the cost of energy, makes it necessary to immediately activate all measures to put into practice the Fit for 55% package (target for 2030 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990) and zero emissions by 2050 (policy document known as the New Green Deal).

These ambitious targets require the adoption of circular economy solutions to protect nature and biodiversity and to ensure a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system. Regarding energy in particular, it is clear that the goal of a climate-neutral Europe in 2050 can only be achieved with a significant growth of all renewable sources, both for electricity generation and for thermal and transport uses. In this perspective, a central role is to be played by bioenergy, whose current share of production (around 10% of total energy consumption) will have to double by 2050. To date, the greatest obstacles lie in the political and cultural spheres, and for this reason, as part of the EIMA Energy Show Itabia - Italian Biomass Association and CNR IBE (Institute for the Bioeconomy) organised a workshop on some good bioeconomy practices selected thanks to the H2020 Project "BRANCHES" (www.branchesproject.eu).

This project aims to disseminate technological innovation to make biomass-related supply chains more efficient, and to create new business opportunities in rural areas by facilitating links between the business world and the world of scientific research. With a view to extending knowledge transfer to a growing number of stakeholders, the workshop took place in close collaboration with the CREA PB National Rural Network, which supports the interaction of the Operating Groups within the PEI-AGRI initiative. Thanks to the database of Operating Groups throughout the country, which can be consulted within the Innovarurale Portal (www.innovarurale.it), the National Rural Network represents an excellent observatory of virtuous initiatives to be disseminated.