Soils are as production site the primary geo-resource for production of biomass and a key element in the bioeconomy (the so-called four F´s). Biomass is used for production of agricultural goods for direct consumption or for conversion to diverse food products or chemical raw-material (like oils), for feed in animal husbandry, for various fibres and play especially with organic renewable in energy production as non-fossil fuels a growing role.
On the other hand, soils as production sites for biomass are increasingly threatened by land and soil consumption for infrastructure and because of land degradation, so the availability of fertile soils is shrinking, while demand for the 4 F’s is growing. Furthermore, consumption behaviour towards higher meat diets and luxury food together with climate change and adaptation challenge soils and their role for water production and functional biodiversity. While soil assessment traditionally concentrates on biomass production, the provision of environmental services have to be taken into account and evaluated since they are increasingly demanded by society to contribute to human life and environmental quality such as flood protection areas or nature conservation (see CTT 4 and CTT 7).
Use of degraded soils for non-food purposes may be an option as a remediation method too and may avoid a conflict with food security. Remediation of degraded soils may also help in carbon management (sequestration) or improvement of local economy.
Integrated land assessment, land management and land use planning need reliable, actual and easily accessible data of land use, soil quality, and data knowledge. Basis for that is an integrated knowledge and management of data availability and security.
Key questions:
• How could an integrated spatial soil mapping make available?
• What Scenarios have taken into account for future demand of food, feed, fibre and regenerative fuels?
• How can degraded land be used for non-food purposes?
• If an increase of yield is needed could we meet this increase by production of organic products versus genetically modified crops? What are the impacts to the SSW-System?
• How could the potential for wood-based and cascade products meet the demand?