Meeting the Needs of the Developing Bio-based Economy

1. Meeting the Needs of the Developing Bio-based Economy The Transition from Agricultural to Biosystems Engineering University Studies in Europe D. Briassoulis Agricultural University of Athens

2. Reaching the limits of the non-renewable resources Based Economy • Easy oil is gone • Natural gas is in limited supply • Coal is associated with climate change • High grade ores of uranium and other minerals are depleting • Substitutes are a long way off The Earth is Finite – We are Reaching its Limits • Gail E. Tverberg – April 10, 2008, Ohio State University College of Public Health, The Expected Economic Impact of an Energy Downturn’, The Oil Drum

3. Reaching the limits of the non-renewable resources Based Economy IMPACT • Higher oil prices • Gasoline, diesel, asphalt • Spreads to natural gas, coal, electricity • Higher food prices • Partly because of shipping/ cultivation costs • Partly because of biofuel use of food Food and energy costs become a bigger share of the economy. • Gail E. Tverberg – April 10, 2008, ‘The Expected Economic Impact of an Energy Downturn’, The Oil Drum

4. Reaching the limits of the non-renewable resources Based Economy • The petroleum-based economy is a mere 140 years old and unlikely to survive into the next century. • We face a big challenge of vital importance for the survival of the planet: • The eventual transition of the global economy from one based on non-renewable resources into a veritably sustainable one is of vital importance. The Oil Energy Curve of History? Life After the Oil Crash, http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/Index.html

5. Reaching the limits of the non-renewable resources Based Economy? Controversy surrounds predictions of the timing of the global peak, as these predictions are dependent on the past production and discovery data used in the calculation as well as how unconventional reserves are considered. Geological pessimism confronts economic and technological optimism! JACQUELINE LANG WEAVER, ‘THE TRADITIONAL PETROLEUM-BASED ECONOMY: AN “EVENTFUL” FUTURE’, Professor of Law, University of Houston Law Center, Conference on “Biofuels and the New Energy Economy” Cumberland School of Law, Samford University on February 10, 2006.

6. Reaching the limits of the non-renewable resources Based Economy…now, in a few years or in a few decades! • Agricultural and Industrial production and processing has to adopt innovative clean technologies, based on renewable resources… • We need to move to a new direction of production for agricultural and pharmaceutical products based onpure biological components to eliminate chemicals and toxins... • We need to decrease the use of non-renewable resources for reasons of climatic change and water famine… • The eventual transition of the global economy from one based on non-renewable resources into a veritably sustainable one is of vital importance!

7. The development of the Bio-Based Economy "Bio-“ from Greek “βίος” for "life"

8. The triumphant come-back of the Bio-Based Economy • The economy of the humankind has been based on renewable natural resources for untold ages • The bio-based-economy is staging a come-back, but in a totally rejuvenated form. • The bio-based economy developing today is a highly sophisticated, knowledge-intensive sector in which rapid progress should be the norm. έστιν ουν επιστήμη δόξα αληθής μετά λόγου Πλάτων (επίσταμαι=γνωρίζω καλά) Cees Veerman; speech at the conference Sustainability, Rural Development and Rural Tourism, Budapest, August 28, 2005 http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/knowledge/knowledge.html

9. BiospecialtiesFood ingredients Pharmaceuticals Fine chemicals Fine chemicals Bio-based materials Agricultural(by)products Sugars Chemo-physical treatmentand/or enzymes Cell factory:Biocatalysis or Micro-organisms BiofuelsEthanol Hydrogen Bulk chemicals The opportunities of the Bio-Based Economy • almost limitless…. Biomaterials Base Chemicals Maurice Lex, White Biotechnology, Europe on the Move, European Commission FP7 Agriculture, Food and Biotechnology Research

10. The development of the Bio-Based Economy • The United States and Canada are leaping forward in integrating the bio-based economy into their long-term innovation strategies • The use of sustainable natural resources is seen as giving the agricultural sector a new lease on life. • Developments in Europe are more scattered. A few countries have been forging ahead since the mid-1990s. Others are only just picking up on the idea • Important steps have to be taken in the European Union, otherwise there is the danger that in the not too distant future, Europe will be lagging behind the United States and Canada. The Emerging Biobased Economy, May 2005: Meeting the goals set for 2010 could create $15-$20 billion a year in new income for farmers and rural America and reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions; http://www.informaecon.com/Biobased_Prospectus_May_2005.pdf Cees Veerman; speech at the conference Sustainability, Rural Development and Rural Tourism, Budapest, August 28, 2005

11. The development of the Bio-Based Economy Biomass, as fuel: • Brazil leads the world in production and use, making about 27 billion litres per year (2008). Some 50 percent of the country's sugar crop (2005) is made into bio-based automotive fuel, which Brazil exports to the tune of two billion liters a year. • In the USA ethanol production is expected to increase substantially: gasoline sold in the United States shall contain at least 7.5 billion gallons of renewable fuels in 2012 (about half-a-million barrels per day). • The European Union has set a goal of agro-fuels providing 5.75% of Europe's transport power by 2010 and 10 percent by 2020. BBC NEWS; Cees Veerman; speech at the conference Sustainability, Rural Development and Rural Tourism, Budapest, August 28, 2005 Economic Report of the President; Transmitted to the Congress February 2006, Together with the Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisers; mandate included in the Energy Policy Act of 2005

12. The development of the Bio-Based Economy Bio-fuels use in key countries National Intelligence Council (USA), Disruptive Technologies, Global Trends, Appendix C: Biofuels and biobased chemicals, 2005

13. The development of the Bio-Based Economy Should the conversion of biomass into fuel (agro-fuels), be the first priority? can it be the driving force of the developing bio-based economy?

14. The opportunities of the Bio-Based Economy • The conversion of biomass into fuel, important as it may be, is just the 'low end' of the bio-based economy. • Biofuels are limited by land, fresh water Biofuels: the illusion and the reality: “…trigger new competition for agricultural resources, and/or will increase existing competition, mainly for land and water, between food production and biofuelproduction”;http://www.twnside.org.sg/title2/resurgence/200/cover1.doc Jan E.G. van Dama, Barbara de Klerk-Engels, Paul C. Struik, Rudy Rabbinge, ‘Securing renewable resource supplies for changing market demands in a bio-based economy’ Industrial cops and products

15. The opportunities of the Bio-Based Economy • The best added value of the bio-based economy comes from knowledge-intensive products, materials and chemicals. • Biomass must be processed in a sustainable way for the bio-based economy to make sense. Cees Veerman; speech at the conference Sustainability, Rural Development and Rural Tourism, Budapest, August 28, 2005 Jan E.G. van Dama, Barbara de Klerk-Engels, Paul C. Struik, Rudy Rabbinge, ‘Securing renewable resource supplies for changing market demands in a bio-based economy’ Industrial cops and products

16. The opportunities of the Bio-Based Economy • The transition from petroleum-based materials to bio-based materials is a major global trend • A bio-based material is simply an engineering material made from substances derived from living matter. These substances may be natural or synthesized organic compounds that exist in nature. • Typically it refers to modern materials that have undergone more extensive processing. A biomaterial is essentially a material that is used and adapted for a medical application. Unprocessed materials may be called biotic material

17. The opportunities of the Bio-Based Economy Biomass, for bio-based materials production: • Biodegradable packaging materials made from the starchy components of potatoes, corn etc and from crop waste. • Packaging materials made from lactic acids are also making headway. Some of the largest supermarket chains are packaging most of their organic food products in such bio-based materials. • Bio-based materials are used to produce biodegradable films and other plastic products for agricultural applications • Renewable building blocks for plastics, as well as natural fibers are already used to reinforce plastics applied in the automotive industry and other applications. • Biocomposites are finding applications in the construction and electronics industry due to their low cost and specific properties Cees Veerman; speech at the conference Sustainability, Rural Development and Rural Tourism, Budapest, August 28, 2005

18. The development of the Bio-Based Economy Biomass for bio-based materials production: • Biopolymers are now moving into main-stream use, and the polymers based on renewable “feedstock” may soon be competing with commodity plastics, as a result of the sales growth of more than 20–30% per year. • The US Technology Road Map for Plant/Crop-based Renewable Resources 2020* has targeted to achieve 10% of basic chemical building blocks arising from plant-derived renewable sources by 2020, with development concepts in place by then to achieve a further increase to 50% by 2050. (*) Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

19. The development of the Bio-Based Economy Biomass for biobased materials production in USA: • The U.S. agricultural, forestry, life sciences, and chemical communities have developed a strategic vision for using crops, trees, and agricultural residues to manufacture industrial products, and have identified major barriers to its implementation. Matt Carr, The biobased revolution, ASC Fall Convention and Expo, October 11, 2005

20. The development of the Bio-Based Economy Biomass for biobased materials production in EU: • Europe is currently well placed in the markets for innovative bio-based products, building on established knowledge and a leading technological and industrial position. • Perceived uncertainty about product properties and weak market transparency hinder the fast take-up of products. • Communication, standardisation, labelling and certification could be used to overcome this. • Future revisions of the CAP could provide opportunities to examine the various elements of non-food policy in order to give positive incentives to the cultivation of crops for industrial uses, in line with the ongoing CAP reform path. A Lead Market Initiative for Europe, ANNEX I, ACTION PLAN OF THE LEAD MARKET INITIATIVE IN THE AREA OF BIO-BASED PRODUCTS, Brussels, 21.12.2007, SEC(2007) 1729

21. The development of the Bio-Based Economy National Intelligence Council (USA), Disruptive Technologies, Global Trends, Appendix C: Biofuels and biobased chemicals, 2005

22. The development of the Bio-Based Economy at the European level • Advances in the technology reach and development ofnew knowledge though EU and national support of the European Education and Research Areas • Systematic, strong Universities-Enterprises cooperation The development and production of novel, innovative products and processes in a cost- and eco-efficient manner, using increasingly renewable raw materials and taking into account the hot environmental issues like climatic change and water limitations, require:

23. The development of the Bio-Based Economy Meeting the Needs of the Developing Bio-based Economy at the level of the University Studies in Europe

24. Hybrid cars Green buildings The development of the Bio-Based Economy Many disciplines (e.g. Chemical Engineering, Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology, etc) are expected to adapt their programs of studies to meet the needs of the developing bio-based economy

25. The development of the Bio-Based Economy • Agricultural Engineering programs of studies will have also to be adapted: • … to address the complex problems of using non-renewable resources based fuels for agricultural machinery and production systems, simultaneously increasing productivity under limitations of water and chemicals and environmental constraints… • …. exploit by-products for development of bio-based materials and use special bio-based materials in production and processing…. • …. irrigate under conditions of water famine, apply sophisticated information technologies and engineering design to optimise prodution, operation and processing involing sensitive and complicated biological systems….

26. NEW DEVELOPMENTS • What is the future of the AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING STUDIES IN EUROPE? • Facing the new challenges of the Developing Bio-based Economy at the level of the University Studies in Europe related to the production and processing of goods of biological origin: • In an environmental friendly way • Based on non-renewable resources to a steadily increasing degree

27. Need for the transition from Agricultural to Biosystems Engineering in Europe

28. Need for the transition from Agricultural Engineering to Biosystems Engineering in Europe • Europe should keep step with the latest developments in Biosystems Engineering occurred at the international level to meet the needs of the developing bio-based economy: strong competition in education, research and economy • Biosystems Engineering should evolve as an integral part of the rapid developments in the Higher Education Area in Europe

29. Need for the transition from Agricultural Engineering to Biosystems Engineering in Europe • In response to the dramatic developments*, the Thematic Network for Education and Research in Biosystems Engineering or Agricultural and Biological Engineering in Europe (ERABEE-TN) was established • ERABEE-TN is built-upon and further develops the outputs of the USAEE-TN by contributing to the inevitable transition from the traditional Agricultural Engineering studies towards a new European dimension in higher education in the broader area of Biosystems Engineering. (*) Bio-based economy; Reduced interest of students for the traditional Agricultural Engineering; International developments

30. Facing new developments and new challenges through the ERABEE TN work • In the future, it is anticipated that the bio-based economy will grow significantly in Europe. • The climatic change related problems will affect the development of the bio-based economy • Enterprises in the areas of bio-energy and renewable resources and bio-based materials are likely to increase, creating new employment opportunities for Biosystems (or Agricultural and Biological) Engineers.

31. Facing new developments and new challenges through the ERABEE TN work • Advancements in science and technology will create new opportunities in areas such as bio-safety, risk assessment, sensor/bio-sensors, electronics and use of information technology, remote sensing, GPS/GIS etc. • New emerging opportunities are likely to occur in developing and under-developed countries in areas of environmental quality, infrastructure and rural development (agriculture and bio-energy).

32. NEW DEVELOPMENTSIN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING STUDIES AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES INTERNATIONAL LEVEL • Traditional field of Agricultural Engineering is now evolving into the Biosystems Engineering field • Biosystems Engineering is a science-based engineering discipline that integrates engineering science and design with applied biological, environmental and agricultural sciences, broadening in this way the area of application of Engineering sciences not strictly to agricultural applications, but to the biological systems in general, including agriculture

33. NEW DEVELOPMENTSIN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING STUDIES AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES • Agricultural Engineering applies engineering sciences to agricultural applications • Biosystems (or Agricultural and Biological) Engineering, extends this application of engineering sciences to all living organisms applications, including agriculture. • Biosystems engineers can be involved in the expanding new areas of bio-based materials, agro-fuels, biomechatronics, etc., in the assessment of food traceability, quality and safety and in the design of environmentally friendly and sustainable systems.

34. NEW DEVELOPMENTSIN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING STUDIES AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES • The major international political priority relevant to Biosystems (or Agricultural and Biological) Engineering studies was set in USA and Canada back in 2003 by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) and the Canadian Society of Agricultural Engineering (CSAE), respectively. • This political priority regarded major changes in the curricula, also reflected in the change of the Societies’ names which was considered as a major issue. • At that time it had become evident that traditional Agricultural Engineering Departments experienced a marked decline in students.

35. Policy Oriented Measures in Support of the Evolving Biosystems Engineering Studies in USA - EU: POMSEBES EU-US Atlantis programme 2006 2007-2008 D. Briassoulis, P. Panagakis, E. Nikopoulou Agricultural University of Athens

36. Provide a platform for a systematic exchange of experiences and ideas between the established Biological Engineering studies in the US and the evolving Biosystems Engineering studies in EU aiming at the establishment of appropriate policy oriented measures to support and guide this evolution Main objective of POMSEBES Policy Oriented Measures in Support of the Evolving Biosystems Engineering Studies in USA - EU

37. OUTCOMES The development of a EU-US uniform structure of Biosystems Engineering programs of study could be achieved provided that a consistent definition of Biosystems Engineering is decided upon and communicated: • The emerging Biosystems Engineering discipline in US (also known as Agricultural and Biological Engineering) and in Europe represents a broader biology-based evolution of the Agricultural Engineering discipline. • It applies to all living organism systems, not limited to agricultural production systems, with the exception of human ones. It integrates engineering science and design with applied biological, environmental and agricultural sciences and can be defined as “the branch of engineering that prepares students to develop and apply engineering solutions to problems in biological systems”. • In the context of this evolution, Biosystems Engineering should exclude Biomedical Engineering (with human biology background prerequisite; also referred to as Bioengineering) and Biotechnology.

38. OUTCOMES • The concept that Biosystems Engineering emphasizes “integration of life and engineering”, including both approaches,“bringing engineering to life” and “bringing life to engineering” is promoted and disseminated • Biosystems Engineering programs of studies should not only include a strong basic Engineering courses/topics core in their study program (following the approved by FEANI-EMC, Core Curricula Template developed within USAEE-TN), but also be requested to disseminate their Engineering courses contents to other programs of studies in (applied) Biological sciences so as to be engaged in educating Engineering concepts to Biological Sciences students

39. OUTCOMES • A list of complimentary, with respect to traditional Agricultural Engineering programs of studies, domains, learning outcomes and core competencies for students in Biosystems Engineering is developed to assist with the evolution and development of the discipline curriculum. This approach will define course topic/modules offered by specific programs of study, as applicable • A systematic comparison among study programs in US and EU is proposed to be used, among others, as a tool that may lead to a standard definition of basics and a clarification of application areas, whereas a common definition of student course load is developed to make EU Biosystems Engineering curriculum compatible with that of US

40. OUTCOMES • Relationships between quality assurance issues of programs of study and learning outcomes or student’s core competences are encouraged. • A European platform for establishing such a relationship is the EUR-ACE Accreditation framework, while the ABET may be employed as the equivalent US Accreditation scheme

41. ERABEE TN: Meeting the Needs of the Developing Bio-based Economy