This book explores activities centered on sustainably produced biomass to support European bioeconomy objectives. It encompasses five main areas related to perennial biomass crops in Europe: ‘Bioenergy Resources from Perennial Crops in Europe’, ‘European Regional Examples for the Use of Perennial Crops for Bioenergy’, ‘Genotypic Selection of Perennial Biomass Crops for Crop Improvement’, ‘Ecophysiology of Perennial Biomass Crops’, and ‘Examples of End-Use of Perennial Biomass Crops’. Key issues include identifying suitable second-generation biomass crops and utilizing marginal land not under intensive agricultural production. Perennial rhizomatous grasses and coppiced trees are highlighted as ideal candidates. The book addresses the suitability of these crops for providing feedstocks while ensuring they do not compete with food crops. It discusses various national and European policy measures related to bioenergy, including the use of perennial grasses for animal feed protein and their role in carbon emissions mitigation through soil carbon sequestration. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of selecting appropriate genotypes and breeding strategies to develop high-yielding, sustainable biomass crops capable of thriving in challenging conditions such as drought and salinity. The concluding chapters also suggest exploring new end-uses for perennial biomass crops to further enhance the bioeconomy.
