Gallagher review consultancy studies

The following studies were commissioned for the Gallagher review: 

AEA Energy and environment synthesis report

AEA Energy and Environment managed the consultancy studies on land availability and GHG impacts. They produced a synthesis report for the RFA that represents AEA's interpretation of these studies.

Anticipated demand for biofuels

Use of information on global targets for biofuels to develop four scenarios to examine the potential global demand for land for biofuels. The scenarios developed in this work were used as a basis for work by CE Delft and Ecofys - E4Tech

Global land agricultural availability and demand

Examination of the drivers for land use demand by 2020. Includes current and anticipated drivers for land and feedstock for food, feed and other commodities. Provides an assessment of the availability of agricultural land for the scenarios developed by E4Tech - CE Delft.

Examination of the background analysis for the proposed EU 10% target

Critique of the impact assessment undertaken for the 10% biofuels target proposed in the Renewable Energy Directive - Ecofys.

Analysis of proposed EU target

Analysis of the impact on land use in 2020 of the proposed EU biofuel target using a range of scenarios, including a range of biofuel targets - Ecofys.

Anticipated and potential improvements in agricultural production with intensification

Review of available information on the yields of main commodity crops and those used for biofuels (first and second generation), the role of intensification in driving productivity and other factors that drive and influence yields. Examination of how global land production could respond by 2020 to increased demands, including for biofuel production. Yield improvements on a regional and crop basis. Productivity projections to 2020 with low, moderate and high trajectories. This work was fed into the scenario analysis by E4Tech and CE Delft - ADAS.

Use of by-products from biofuels production

Review of the potential for use of by-products as animal feed or as a fuel for heat and/or power. Examination of the effect of these uses on global land use and on land-use changes - CE Delft.

Land-use change impacts and opportunities at regional level

Examination of the current rate and the principal location and types of land-use change; where biofuels are likely to be grown; and what is the potential role of feedstocks cultivated on poor quality soils, salt water environments and in arid areas - Themba.

Case studies on representative areas: India, China, the UK, Brazil, SE Asia and Southern Africa - Themba.

Review GHG emissions from land-use change

Review of impacts and uncertainties in GHG emissions from a variety of land-use changes. Examination of the impact of carbon sequestration by fallow land on total GHG emissions of biofuel production in the EU. Estimation of the effects of low or no till on yields of biofuels crops in the UK - North Energy Associates and ADAS.

Review the evidence on GHG savings of current and future biofuel technologies and identify key areas of uncertainty

Evaluation of the impact of GHG emissions of current and future biofuel production. Review of work on N20 emissions from soils arising from fertiliser application and an assessment of Crutzen's paper on this topic - North Energy Associates.

Review of the Searchinger paper

Critique of Searchinger's results, including their relevance to the EU, the robustness of the approach for feedstock conversion and displacement, price increases, crop productivity, indirect land-use change and GHG emissions - ADAS.

The potential contribution of advanced technologies and feedstocks with limited or no land demand and resulting GHG savings

Examination of development potential for second generation biofuels by 2020 - E4Tech.

The economic benefits and food insecurity impacts of biofuels production

How will expansion of biofuel production affect prices on the world market? How do international price changes affect domestic prices? How will prices rises induced by biofuels affect consumers in the developing world? What is the potential for the poor to earn more by producing biofuels? How will the economies of low income countries be affected by biofuels? What may be the social impacts of biofuels? - Overseas Development Institute (ODI).

GHG saving calculations

Graphs illustrating the range of GHG savings which can be achieved by different biofuels if they did not cause indirect land use change. E4Tech.