After harvesting cereals, ‘crop residue’ is left behind. Namely stems, leaves, husks and unharvested plant material. This can be used for bioenergy production – however a new study states that removing too much of it could be bad for the environment.
Despite its alternative name (‘waste material’) suggesting it can be discarded, it has been found to impact biodiversity, which makes it a valuable asset alongside its dual use in energy.
A lot of crop residue can be left on fields, where it has been found to maintain healthy soil (beneficial for moles, worms and other burrowing animals as well as plant life) and provides food and habitats for other wildlife.
Although it presents a sustainable energy source, since it can be grown and harvested and grown again from the seeds it produces, researchers offer the notion that these materials need to be managed.
Professor Zoe M Harris, Director of the Centre for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Surrey, said: “Crop residues could provide a valuable source of renewable energy for Europe’s green transition, but as with any natural resource, we need to fully understand what happens if we take more of these materials from fields. Our findings suggest that there could indeed be consequences for biodiversity, and that needs to be factored in when assessing how much crop residue can sustainably be used for bioenergy production.”
Much like deforestation but on a physically smaller scale, the study warns that increasing the removal of cereal residues could have negative consequences for biodiversity, particularly in areas where a high proportion is currently left on fields. However, it also highlights the possibility of making more residues available for bioenergy by reducing the amount used for animal feed and bedding, rather than removing more from fields.
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