In order to make the system boundaries compatible to the requirement of the GHG efficiency and, thus, to guarantee a methodological blending, this modelization was not undertaken.
It enables an estimation of the profitability and GHG efficiency of energy crop cultivation paths at regional or communal level under consideration of different indicators for environmental sustainability.
The method takes into account the three main requirements of agricultural profitability, greenhouse gases (GHG) efficiency, and environmental sustainability of energy crop cultivation for decentralized energy production and has been applied for two sample regions.
From the perspective of the GHG efficiency, an extensive synergy with environmental sustainability can be observed: The cultivation of energy crops on permanent grassland (on organic soil) is only partially suitable in relation to both criteria.
Through agricultural consulting and adaptation of funding conditions, cultivation could be optimized by respecting area peculiarities and local sensitivities regarding environmental sustainability and GHG efficiency, which is also in the interest of most farmers[21].
The GHG efficiency is also clearly dependent on regional factors, for instance, on the question of whether fallow land is plowed for energy crops or whether it displaces current food or animal fodder production.
Competing goals are as follows: GHG efficiency (reduction of greenhouse gases), environmental sustainability of crop cultivation and the avoidance of indirect damages such as the loss of biological diversity, the influx of invasive species, the erosion of the landscape, maximization of space efficiency and the economic yield, and.
However, the individual results regarding GHG efficiency and agricultural profitability are very similar - apart from the extremely diverging values for the cultivation of crops on greenland (organic soils) so that no conflicts are expected with the actual use in the assessed regions regarding the quantity of biomass production.
GHG efficiency could, however, be improved if yields could substantially be increased on site, i.e. if food, feed and fuels could be produced on essentially the same agricultural land as before.
Modelled impact assessments of potential improvements in the GHG efficiency of livestock production have concluded that technological improvements alone cannot be expected to reduce the environmental burden of livestock to levels required in order to meet climate change targets.
Analyses of rainfall characteristics indicate that under GHG, overall precipitation efficiency over the ASM region is reduced, manifesting in less moderate but more extreme heavy rain events.
