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Integrated Bioenergy and Food Production—A German Survey on Structure and Developments of Anaerobic Digestion in Organic Farming Systems

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  • Benjamin Blumenstein

    (Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, Department of Farm Management, University of Kassel, Steinstr. 19, Witzenhausen 37213, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this research paper.)

  • Torsten Siegmeier

    (Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, Department of Farm Management, University of Kassel, Steinstr. 19, Witzenhausen 37213, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this research paper.)

  • Carsten Bruckhaus

    (Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, Department of Farm Management, University of Kassel, Steinstr. 19, Witzenhausen 37213, Germany)

  • Victor Anspach

    (Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, Department of Farm Management, University of Kassel, Steinstr. 19, Witzenhausen 37213, Germany)

  • Detlev Möller

    (Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, Department of Farm Management, University of Kassel, Steinstr. 19, Witzenhausen 37213, Germany)

Abstract

Rising global energy needs and limited fossil fuel reserves have led to increased use of renewable energies. In Germany, this has entailed massive exploitation of agricultural biomass for biogas generation, associated with unsustainable farming practices. Organic agriculture not only reduces negative environmental impacts, organic farmers were also prime movers in anaerobic digestion (AD) in Germany. This study’s aim was to identify the structure, development, and characteristics of biogas production associated with organic farming systems in order to estimate further development, as well as energetic and associated agronomic potentials. Surveys were conducted among organic farms with AD technology. 144 biogas plants could be included in the analysis. Total installed electrical capacity was 30.8 MW el , accounting for only 0.8% of the total installed electrical capacity in the German biogas sector. Recently, larger plant types (>250 kW el ) with increased use of (also purchased) energy crops have emerged. Farmers noticed increases in yields (22% on average) and quality of cash crops in arable farming through integrated biogas production. In conclusion, although the share of AD in organic farming is relatively small it can provide various complementary socio-ecological benefits such as the enhancement of food output through digestate fertilization without additional need for land, while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions from livestock manures and soils. However, to achieve this eco-functional intensification, AD systems and their management have to be well adapted to farm size and production focus and based primarily on residue biomass.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Blumenstein & Torsten Siegmeier & Carsten Bruckhaus & Victor Anspach & Detlev Möller, 2015. "Integrated Bioenergy and Food Production—A German Survey on Structure and Developments of Anaerobic Digestion in Organic Farming Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-24, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:8:p:10709-10732:d:53874
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Koppelmäki, Kari & Parviainen, Tuure & Virkkunen, Elina & Winquist, Erika & Schulte, Rogier P.O. & Helenius, Juha, 2019. "Ecological intensification by integrating biogas production into nutrient cycling: Modeling the case of Agroecological Symbiosis," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 39-48.
    2. Marco Baldi & Maria Cristina Collivignarelli & Alessandro Abbà & Ilaria Benigna, 2018. "The Valorization of Ammonia in Manure Digestate by Means of Alternative Stripping Reactors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-14, August.
    3. Blumenstein, Benjamin & Siegmeier, Torsten & Selsam, Franziska & Möller, Detlev, 2018. "A case of sustainable intensification: Stochastic farm budget optimization considering internal economic benefits of biogas production in organic agriculture," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 78-92.
    4. Hubert Prask & Józef Szlachta & Małgorzata Fugol & Leszek Kordas & Agnieszka Lejman & Franciszek Tużnik & Filip Tużnik, 2018. "Sustainability Biogas Production from Ensiled Plants Consisting of the Transformation of the Digestate into a Valuable Organic-Mineral Granular Fertilizer," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-13, February.
    5. Abdo, Hafez & Ackrill, Rob, 2021. "On-farm anaerobic digestion: A disaggregated analysis of the policy challenges for greater uptake," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).

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