Smallholders in Global Bioenergy Value Chains and Certification

Climate, Energy and Tenure Division

Smallholders in Global Bioenergy Value Chains and Certification

Evidence from three case studies

Year of publication 2012

Pages 119

Author Climate, Energy and Tenure Division

Product type Document

ISBN 97892510714

Series title Environment and Natural Resources Management Working Paper

Series number 2226-6062

Edition 1

Full item page

Synopsis (short abstract) Over the last few years, there has been growing interest in bioenergy, due in part to its potential for rural development and climate change mitigation, and as an energy alternative given the high price of oil. At the same time, concerns regarding the potential negative impacts of bioenergy have also grown and have led to the development of a range of voluntary standards aimed at ensuring the sustainability of bioenergy production. While one of the goals of voluntary standards is to en hance the sustainability of bioenergy production ? including from a socio-economic perspective ? they might also present a disincentive for incorporating smallholders in value chains, due to greater cost and complexity. FAO?s Bioenergy and Food Security Criteria and Indicators (BEFSCI) project conducted three case studies to examine the opportunities and challenges for smallholders presented by: 1) bioenergy as a new type of value chain, and by 2) bioenergy certification schemes.

Language English

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