The biobased economy : biofuels, materials and chemicals in the post-oil era / edited by Hans Langeveld, Johan Sanders and Marieke Meeusen.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Section one. Towards sustainability. General introduction / J.W.A. Langeveld and J.P.M. Sanders -- Transition towards a biobased economy / E. ten Pierick, E.M. van Mil and M.J.G. Meeusen -- Challenges for sustainable development / H. Østergar̊d, M.V. Markussen and E.S. Jensen -- Principles of plant production / J.W.A. Langeveld and G.W.J. van de Ven -- Plant breeding and its role in a biobased economy / L.M. Trindade ... [and others] -- Biomass availability / J.W.A. Langeveld -- Section two. Biomass refining and conversion. Introduction to section II / J.W.A. Langeveld and J.P.M. Sanders -- Biorefineries: giving value to sustainable biomass use / E. de Jong ... [and others] -- Plant production of chemical building blocks / A.J. Koops ... [and others] -- The production of chemicals in a biobased economy / E.L. Scott, J. van Haveren and J.P.M. Sanders -- Advanced biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass / R.R. Bakker -- Biogas / K.B. Zwart and J.W.A. Langeveld -- Section three actor involvement. Introduction to section III / M.J.G. Meeusen and J.W.A. Langeveld -- Policy making for the biobased economy / M. Londo and M.J.G. Meeusen -- Biobased industrialization in developing countries / S. Vellema, H.L. Bos and J.E.G. van Dam -- Biobased production chains / M.J.G. Meeusen -- Biofuel policies, production, trade and land use / M. Banse, H. van Meijl and G. Woltjer -- Public debate on sustainability of biofuels / M.J.G. Meeusen -- Section four. Transition in action. Introduction to section IV / J.P.M. Sanders and J.W.A. Langeveld -- Biodiesel from Brazil / H.W. Elbersen ... [and others] -- Biobased products and bioenergy in Germany / A. Schuẗte and D. Peters -- Development of the biobased economy in Canada, an overview / J.F. Jaworski -- A biobased economy for the Netherlands / J.P.M. Sanders and J.W.A. Langeveld -- Synthesis / J.W.A. Langeveld and J.P.M. Sanders.

The impending threats of catastrophic climate change and peak oil are driving our society towards increased use of biomass for energy, chemical compounds and other materials - the beginnings of a biobased economy. As alternative development models for the biobased economy emerge, we need to determine potential applications, their perspectives and possible impacts as well as policies that can steer technological and market development in such a way that our objectives are met. Currently, it is still far from clear what will be the most sustainable routes to follow, which technologies should be included, and how their development will affect, and be affected by, research, public opinion and policy and market forces. This groundbreaking work, edited by a group of leading researchers originally from Wageningen Agricultural University in the Netherlands, sets out to unpick the complex systems in play. It provides an illuminating framework for how policy and market players could and should drive the development of a biobased economy that is effective, sustainable, fair and cost efficient. Starting with a state-of-the-art overview of major biobased technologies, including biorefinery and technologies for the production of biofuels, biogas, biomass feedstocks for chemistry and bioplastics, it discusses how different actor groups interact through policy and markets. Information from case studies is used to demonstrate how the potential of the biobased economy in different parts of the world, such as North America, Europe, and emerging economies like China and Brazil can be realised using research, debate, policy and commercial development. The result is an essential resource for all those working in or concerned with biobased industries, their policy or research.