From Vienna to Lima. Current Aspects of
European-Latin American Relations

The Importance of Bioenergy for "Sustainable Development" and the Challenges of Bioenergy Research in Europe and Latin America

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41th Latin American Day - Friday/Saturday 9/10 May 2008

Languages: Spanish and English (simultaneous translation)

The enormous amount of resources used at a global level, including use of resources for energy supply, changes ecological, societal and economic systems to an only partially predictable extent. The changing world climate is one of the obvious effects. Beyond this, the intense (but globally unequally distributed) waste of resources is setting a high risk for world wide political and social developments. A secure energy supply is vitally important for economic performance and quality of life. Insofar, the transition from conventional, fossil energy resources to renewable ones is associated with a big challenge for the economic establishment.

Among future renewable energy perspectives, bioenergy is playing a leading part. Bioenergy resources such as forestry and agriculture crops, biomass residues and biogenic wastes already provide about 14% of the world's primary energy supplies. It is estimated that bioenergy has the potential to meet 50% of world energy demands during the next century and at the same time meet the requirement of reducing carbon emissions from fossil fuels (IEA, International Energy Agency). When looking at bioenergy, biomass production, biomass combustion, biogas, biorefineries and biofuels are among the main research topics that are being studied.

Latin America is considered the “key pioneering region for biofuels” (World Biofuels Markets Congress 2008). In Europe, as well Bioenergy has become a key issue of research and industry interests. Both continents are eager to benefit from each other.

Time for us to confront and bring together positions, viewpoints and experiences on Bioenergy research in Latin America and Europe!

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