Bioresources and Biocommodities for the Global Bioeconomy

Abstract For the fossil-to-biobased transition it is relevant to link the biomass production capacity to the growing demands for supplies of suitable biomass feedstock. Lignocellulosic residues from agriculture and forestry may find enhanced utilization, without the need to increase the arable land areas. Therefore, it is important to develop a variety of tradable biomass products or biocommodities. These new biocommodities should become available in sufficient quantities, validated, and quality standardized to provide biobased industries with reliable feedstock and provide additional jobs and income regionally. To convert heterogenic biomass to bioeconomic value installment, regional Integrated Biomass Logistic Centers need to be set-up. In these centers, the initial pretreatment of biomass (cleaning, dewatering, and compaction) can take place in order to create biomass commodities of stable quality that can be conserved over longer periods of time. On the other hand, demand is needed to mobilize the supply and commodification process of biomass. Only if pretreatment chains are set up in response to market demand for biomass commodities can a large conversion from the traditional economy to a bioeconomy emerge and the opportunities to produce valuable, low-CO 2 impact consumer goods, platform chemicals, and energy from biomass will take off. Tradable biocommodities are, therefore, indispensable for decarbonizing our economy.