Decarbonizing the agriculture sector: What role can bioenergy play?

The document explores the role of advanced bioenergy systems in decarbonizing agriculture, emphasizing a 'carbon-negative circular bioeconomy' that combines emissions reductions with permanent carbon dioxide removal (CDR). It identifies opportunities such as utilizing biogenic point sources, growing perennials on underutilized land, and replacing synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. However, it warns of risks including methane leakage from anaerobic digesters, detrimental land-use changes, and environmental justice concerns. The report argues for policy shifts that prioritize CDR over simple energy production and calls for increased research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) to scale cellulosic bioenergy technologies.

• Agrifood systems are a major source of global greenhouse gas emissions, contributing approximately one-third of total anthropogenic emissions, with over 50% of methane and 75% of nitrous oxide emissions originating from this sector.
• Advanced bioenergy systems, specifically Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), are viewed as critical for achieving permanent carbon dioxide removal (CDR). IPCC pathways suggest BECCS could provide about 2.75 gigatonnes of annual permanent CDR by 2050.
• There are significant opportunities to capture biogenic CO2 from existing point sources and underutilized lands. In Europe, BECCS could potentially store 130 million tonnes of biogenic CO2 annually from existing sources. Additionally, growing perennials on abandoned or seasonally fallow land, such as in the U.S. Midwest, could enhance carbon capture.
• Bioenergy systems can reduce the reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, which contribute roughly 1.01 Gt CO2e annually. Using organic fertilizers from bioenergy processes like anaerobic digestion can provide more predictable nutrient sources and reduce upstream fossil fuel emissions.
• Scaling bioenergy systems carries risks, including the potential for methane leakage from anaerobic digesters, which could negate climate benefits, and the risk of detrimental land-use changes such as deforestation or the conversion of wetlands.
• The deployment of BECCS faces significant challenges, including high capital costs, public opposition to CO2 pipeline siting, and a low technological readiness level for cellulosic bioenergy conversion systems.

APA

Herbstritt, S., Ferreira, F., & Fallon, K. (2024). Decarbonizing the agriculture sector: What role can bioenergy play? Clean Air Task Force. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/10094718/decarbagsector_workshophighlights.pdf

Chicago

Herbstritt, Steph, Fernanda Ferreira, and Kathy Fallon. Decarbonizing the agriculture sector: What role can bioenergy play? Clean Air Task Force, 2024. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/10094718/decarbagsector_workshophighlights.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Herbstritt |first1=Steph |last2=Ferreira |first2=Fernanda |last3=Fallon |first3=Kathy |title=Decarbonizing the agriculture sector: What role can bioenergy play? |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=2024 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/10094718/decarbagsector_workshophighlights.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{herbstritt2024decarbonizing, author = {Herbstritt, Steph and Ferreira, Fernanda and Fallon, Kathy}, title = {{Decarbonizing the agriculture sector: What role can bioenergy play?}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2024}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/10094718/decarbagsector_workshophighlights.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }