Bioenergy From Agriculture: Challenges for the Rural Development Program in Sweden

Abstract

This article addresses the challenges for the EU Rural Development Program (RDP) to promote sustainable bioenergy production from agriculture. Drawing on the Swedish example, we identify opportunities for farmers and discuss agricultural-based bioenergy production in relation to the program objectives for agricultural competitiveness, sustainability and climate effects, and rural development. The sustainability and climate effects of agricultural-based bioenergy can be ascertained only through contextual analysis, and research indicates that rural development may be best promoted through local collaborative energy systems. Contrasting two ideal-type roles farmers may assume in bioenergy production, we discuss Swedish institutional contexts of energy production. In Sweden, the national energy policy tends to favor large-scale energy solutions and farmers taking on the roles as suppliers of primary products in large-scale energy systems. For RDP objectives to be realized, this tendency needs to be countered, local solutions need to be supported, and a national three-tiered energy policy integration needs to be furthered.

Keywords

Agriculture and the environment; energy policy; environmental management; policy and politics; rural and agricultural development; sustainable development

Published in

Society and Natural Resources
2016, volume: 29, number: 12, pages: 1467-1482

SLU Authors

• Waldenström, Cecilia

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Ferguson, Richard

  • Department of Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Sundberg, Cecilia

  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

• Tidåker, Pernilla

  • Swedish Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering (JTI)

• Westholm, Erik

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Åkerskog, Ann

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Global goals (SDG)

SDG2 Zero hunger
SDG7 Affordable and clean energy
SDG12 Responsible consumption and production

UKÄ Subject classification

Bioenergy
Environmental Sciences and Nature Conservation

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2016.1150538

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/77846