Biomass and agriculture : sustainability, markets and policies.

Agricultural Biomass is organic material produced directly from agricultural activities, including cereal grains, sugar crops, oilseeds and other arable crops, along with straw, and also livestock by-products, such as manure and animal fat, resulting in the production of bioenergy and biomaterials. This OECD Workshop examines the potential of developing energy and materials produced from the agricultural biomass, that may act as a replacement for fossil fuels. The Workshop discussed whether agriculture could become a valuable source of bioenergy and biomaterials as well as food and fibres. Can the agricultural biomass be integrated into policies of sustainable development? What policies should be developed by governments to expand and develop this market? The Workshop concluded that countries need to weigh the cost and benefits of adopting such an approach, considering the effect on farmers and the environment. That any policy strategies for biomass development should focus on demand, as opposed to supply.