Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Food Waste Reduction and Valorisation pp 69–78Cite as

Fodder Legumes for Green Biorefineries: A Perspective for Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

Peak oil is forcing our society to shift from fossil to renewable resources. However, such renewable resources are also scarce, and they too must be used in the most efficient and sustainable way possible. Biorefining is a concept that represents both resource efficiency (waste reduction) and sustainability. This approach initiates a cascade use, which means food and feed production before material use, and an energy-related use at the end of the value-added chain. However, sustainability must already start in the fields, on the agricultural side, where the industrially-used biomass is produced. The highest premise of the study was to develop an agricultural production system that is more sustainable than existing ones. Fodder legumes, produced in expanded crop rotations are cultivated. They have a very positive environmental impact in agricultural production systems. They are used as bio-industrial feedstock and fodder in the Green Biorefinery approach. Following evidence that both intermediate products are suitable in the biorefining process, a cost-benefit analysis, comparing different production scenarios on a farm, showed that for large farm sizes in particular, the potential profits are high. Therefore, all three pillars of sustainability in agricultural production systems can be improved.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abdel-Rahman MA, Tashiro Y, Sonomoto K (2013) Recent advances in lactic acid production by microbial fermentation processes. Biotechnol Adv 31:877–902. doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2013.04.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg (2010a) Time series on Viehbestand und tierische Erzeugung im Land Brandenburg (1990–2009). Dataset provided on request

    Google Scholar 

  • Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg (2010b) Time series on Bodennutzung der landwirtschafltichen Betriebe im Land Brandenburg (1990–2009). Dataset provided on request

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker N, Emde F, Jessel B, Kärcher A, Schuster B, Seifert C, Ammermann K, Balzer S, Benzler A, Dietrich K, Dünnfelder H, Ellwanger G, Finck P, Heym A, Job-Hoben B, Krug A, Mues A, Natho S, Schweppe-Kraft B, SSymank A, Strauß C, Vischer-Leopold M, Zueghart W (2014) Grünland-report - Alles im Grünen Bereich? Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Bonn

    Google Scholar 

  • BMELV (2012) Eiweißpflanzenstrategie des BMELV. Bundesministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft u. Verbraucherschutz (BMELV), Berlin, Germany, p 13

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryant AM, Carruthers VR, Trigg TE (1983) Nutritive value of pressed herbage residues for lactating dairy cows. New Zealand J Agric Res 26:79–84. doi:10.1080/00288233.1983.10420954

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark JH, Deswarte FEI (2015) The biorefinery concept: an integrated approach. In: Clark JH, Deswarte FEI (eds) Introduction to chemicals from biomass. Wiley, New York, p 344

    Google Scholar 

  • Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (2011) The EU protein deficit: what solution for a long-standing problem? (2010/2111(INI)). European Parliament, Straßburg, France 17

    Google Scholar 

  • Council of the European Union (2014) Use of plastic bags: agreement on phasing down. P. Release, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  • DAFA (2015) The grassland expert forum—draft, Deutsche Agrarforschungsallianz (DAFA) c/o Johann-Heinrich-von-Thünen-Inst., Braunschweig, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • de Jong E, Langeveld H, van Ree R (eds) (2009) IEA bioenergy task 42 biorefinery. pp 1–26. Available online at: http://www.biorefinery.nl/fileadmin/biorefinery/docs/Brochure_Totaal_definitief_HR_opt.pdf, last access 15 May 2010

  • European Bioplastics (2012) What are bioplastics? Fact sheet. http://en.european-bioplastics.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/fs/Bioplastics_eng.pdf, last access: 13 Aug 2012

  • Freyer B (2003) Fruchtfolgen – Konventionell, Integriert. Biologisch Eugen Ulmer GmbH & Co., Stuttgart, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerowitt B, Schröder S, Dempfle L, Engels E-M, Engels J, Feindt PH, Graner A, Hamm U, Heißenhuber A, Schulte-Coerne H, Wolters V, Scientific Advisory Board for Biodiversity and Genetic Resources at the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection F.a.A.B. (2013) Biodiversity in grasslands—indispensable for agriculture and society. Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture (BMELV), p 20

    Google Scholar 

  • Gooding MJ, Kasyanova E, Ruske R, Hauggaard-Nielsen H, Jensen ES, Dahlmann C, Von Fragstein P, Dibet A, Corre-Hellou G, Crozat Y, Pristerf A, Romeo M, Monti M, Launay M (2007) Intercropping with pulses to concentrate nitrogen and sulphur in wheat. J Agric Sci 145:469–479. doi:10.1017/s0021859607007241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grzebisz W, Kryszak J, Szczepaniak W, Gaj R (2001) Cultivation of legumes and grass/legume mixtures on arable land as a sustainable management. In: Horst WJ et al (eds) Plant nutrition: food security and sustainability of agro-ecosystems through basic and applied research. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp 1006–1007

    Google Scholar 

  • Hejcman M, Kunzova E, Srek P (2012) Sustainability of winter wheat production over 50 years of crop rotation and N, P and K fertilizer application on illimerized luvisol in the Czech Republic. Field Crops Res 139:30–38. doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2012.10.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen ES, Peoples MB, Boddey RM, Gresshoff PM, Hauggaard-Nielsen H, Alves BJR, Morrison MJ (2012) Legumes for mitigation of climate change and the provision of feedstock for biofuels and biorefineries. A review. Agron Sustainable Dev 32:329–364. doi:10.1007/s13593-011-0056-7

  • Jim Jem K, van der Pol JF, de Vos S (2010) Microbial lactic acid, its polymer poly(lactic acid) and their industrial applications. Plastics from Bacteria Microbiology Monographs 323–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahnt G (2008) Leguminosen im konventionellen und ökologischen Landbau DLG Verlags-GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Koschuh W, Kromus S, Krotscheck C (2003) Grüne Bioraffinerie - Gewinnung von Proteinen aus Grassäften, Berichte aus Energie- und Umweltforschung, Kornberg Institut. pp 1–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin CSK, Pfaltzgraff LA, Herrero-Davila L, Mubofu EB, Abderrahim S, Clark JH, Koutinas AA, Kopsahelis N, Stamatelatou K, Dickson F, Thankappan S, Mohamed Z, Brocklesby R, Luque R (2013) Food waste as a valuable resource for the production of chemicals, materials and fuels. Current situation and global perspective. Energy Environ Sci 6:426–464. doi:10.1039/c2ee23440h

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu CD, Jorgensen NA, Barrington GP (1979) Wet fractionation process: preservation and utilization of pressed alfalfa forage. J Dairy Sci 62:1399–1407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madhavan NK, Nair NR, John RP (2010) An overview of the recent developments in polylactide (PLA) research. Bioresour Technol 101:8493–8501. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2010.05.092

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malézieux E, Crozat Y, Dupraz C, Laurans M, Makowski D, Ozier-Lafontaine H, Rapidel B, de Tourdonnet S, Valantin-Morison M (2009) Mixing plant species in cropping systems: concepts, tools and models. A review. Agron Sustain Dev 29:43–62. doi:10.1051/agro:2007057

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council (2002) Tropical legumes: resources for the future books for business. New York, Hong Kong

    Google Scholar 

  • Papendiek F (2016) Fodder legumes for green biorefineries: a perspective for sustainable agricultural production systems. University Potsdam, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Papendiek F, Venus J (2014) Cultivation and fractionation of leguminous biomass for lactic acid production. Chem Biochem Eng Q 28:375–382. doi:10.15255/CABEQ.2013.1854

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papendiek F, Ende HP, Steinhardt U, Wiggering H (2012) Biorefineries: relocating biomass refineries to the rural areas. Landscape Online 27:9

    Google Scholar 

  • Papendiek F, Tartiu VE, Morone P, Venus J, Hönig A (2015) Assessing the economic profitability of fodder legume production for green biorefineries—a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate farmers profitability. J Clean Prod. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.07.108

    Google Scholar 

  • Parajuli R, Dalgaard T, Jorgensen U, Adamsen APS, Knudsen MT, Birkved M, Gylling M, Schjorring JK (2015) Biorefining in the prevailing energy and materials crisis: a review of sustainable pathways for biorefinery value chains and sustainability assessment methodologies. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 43:244–263. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2014.11.041

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson GP, Hamilton SK, Del Grosso SJ, Parton WJ (2011) The biogeochemistry of bioenergy landscapes: carbon, nitrogen, and water considerations. Ecol Appl 21(4):1055–1067. doi:10.1890/09-0456.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schreuder R, De Visser C (2014) Report EIP-Agri focus group protein crops: final report. European Commission, Brussels, Belgium 49

    Google Scholar 

  • SpecialChem (2014) Global lactic acid market to grow at a CAGR of 15.5% from 2014–20: Grand view research 2014. http://www.specialchem4bio.com/news/2014/05/23/global-lactic-acid-market-to-grow-at-a-cagr-of-15-5-from-2014-20-grand-view-research, last access: 30.03.2015

  • Venus J (2006) Utilization of renewables for lactic acid fermentation. Biotechnol J 1:1428–1432. doi:10.1002/biot.200600180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WRAP (2015) What is a circular economy? http://www.wrap.org.uk/about-us/about/wrap-and-circular-economy

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Head Office of the German Council of Science and Humanities, Research Infrastructure (Forschungsinfrastrukturen), Brohler Straße 11, 50968, Cologne, Germany

    Franka Papendiek

Authors
  1. Franka Papendiek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Franka Papendiek .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Law and Economics, Unitelma Sapienza, Rome, Italy

    Piergiuseppe Morone

  2. Leibniz Centre for Agriculture, Müncheberg, Germany

    Franka Papendiek

  3. University of Graz, Graz, Austria

    Valentina Elena Tartiu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Papendiek, F. (2017). Fodder Legumes for Green Biorefineries: A Perspective for Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems. In: Morone, P., Papendiek, F., Tartiu, V. (eds) Food Waste Reduction and Valorisation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50088-1_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50088-1_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-50087-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-50088-1

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation