Periodic Reporting for period 2 - BAMBOO (Biodiversity and trade: mitigating the impacts of non-food biomass global supply chains)
Période du rapport: 2024-03-01 au 2025-08-31
BAMBOO is focusing on biodiversity impacts from non-food biomass and the trade thereof. To tackle this, we work at the global scale on developing methods to assess impacts on biodiversity that have so far not been covered, are working on improving and expanding trade models and generate scenarios with integrated assessment models to derive recommendations and leverage points for transformative change.
For the development of biodiversity impacts, we focus on three different metrics, considering different aspects: 1) PDF (potentially disappeared fraction of species – a metric for species richness loss), 2) MSA (mean species abundance – a metric for documenting change in abundance), and 3) FD (functional diversity – capturing losses of ecosystem functioning). For PDF, we have a large focus on developing methods for marine ecosystems, since they are so far underrepresented, and we cover ocean acidification, seabed damage and overexploitation. For MSA, the focus is on terrestrial ecosystems, and FD focuses on eutrophication, climate change, and overexploitation as well. In addition, we develop and identify methods that are covering impacts on ecosystem services, which are a more anthropocentric view of impacts.
For trade, we create a new, hybrid multiregional input-output (MRIO) model based on the well-known EXIOBASE and the biomass-specific FABIO model. FABIO is expanded in terms of products covered, adding forestry (FORBIO) and aquatic products (FISHIO), in addition to bio-based chemicals. The hybrid MRIO model combines and extends existing physical and monetary MRIO models, allowing us to comprehensively track global flows of raw and processed non-food biomass in unprecedented detail.
This hybrid model will then be linked to the integrated assessment model IMAGE for scenario generation. Using our system of coupled models, we assess the hotspots and leverage points of the non-food biomass economy and design future scenarios with mitigated impacts on ecosystems, identifying potential pathways for transformative change.
Apart from global assessments and recommendations, we showcase the applicability of our models in two local case studies of global relevance, fishmeal and fish oil production in Peru and cotton production in Tanzania, as well as two case studies with a retailer.
To facilitate transformative change towards protecting biodiversity, we develop an online tool that allows stakeholders to use all models easily. In general, our data will be freely available on Zenodo while safeguarding proprietary information from commercial partners. Overall, BAMBOO provides comprehensive and detailed knowledge of the effects of biomass trade from land and sea on biodiversity and ecosystem services and an improved way of identifying leverage points. This will ultimately contribute to better environmental decision-making by policymakers, retailers and other stakeholders, supporting the achievement of science-based targets and the SDGs.
For the development of biodiversity impacts, we focus on three different metrics, considering different aspects: 1) PDF (potentially disappeared fraction of species – a metric for species richness loss), 2) MSA (mean species abundance – a metric for documenting change in abundance), and 3) FD (functional diversity – capturing losses of ecosystem functioning). For PDF, we have a large focus on developing methods for marine ecosystems, since they are so far underrepresented, and we cover ocean acidification, seabed damage and overexploitation. For MSA, the focus is on terrestrial ecosystems, and FD focuses on eutrophication, climate change, and overexploitation as well. In addition, we develop and identify methods that are covering impacts on ecosystem services, which are a more anthropocentric view of impacts.
For trade, we create a new, hybrid multiregional input-output (MRIO) model based on the well-known EXIOBASE and the biomass-specific FABIO model. FABIO is expanded in terms of products covered, adding forestry (FORBIO) and aquatic products (FISHIO), in addition to bio-based chemicals. The hybrid MRIO model combines and extends existing physical and monetary MRIO models, allowing us to comprehensively track global flows of raw and processed non-food biomass in unprecedented detail.
This hybrid model will then be linked to the integrated assessment model IMAGE for scenario generation. Using our system of coupled models, we assess the hotspots and leverage points of the non-food biomass economy and design future scenarios with mitigated impacts on ecosystems, identifying potential pathways for transformative change.
Apart from global assessments and recommendations, we showcase the applicability of our models in two local case studies of global relevance, fishmeal and fish oil production in Peru and cotton production in Tanzania, as well as two case studies with a retailer.
To facilitate transformative change towards protecting biodiversity, we develop an online tool that allows stakeholders to use all models easily. In general, our data will be freely available on Zenodo while safeguarding proprietary information from commercial partners. Overall, BAMBOO provides comprehensive and detailed knowledge of the effects of biomass trade from land and sea on biodiversity and ecosystem services and an improved way of identifying leverage points. This will ultimately contribute to better environmental decision-making by policymakers, retailers and other stakeholders, supporting the achievement of science-based targets and the SDGs.
BAMBOO is organized into seven work packages, including one WP on management and one on dissemination, communication and exploitation. In total, there are 36 tasks. After 36 months, all tasks except for one (T3.6) have started, and 12 tasks are scheduled to have finished. Some tasks are delayed. For more details on the work performed, see also the technical report part B.
Methodological development in WP1 and WP2 regarding impact assessment methods is ongoing. The development of a model for ocean acidification is finished and delivered (D1.1).
The expansion of FABIO (WP3) was delivered (D3.1) with further refinements still ongoing. At the same time, the trade models have been applied to several case studies with manuscripts, e.g. on the biodiversity impact of wood supply chains, currently under review.
The scenario development has started and has been discussed at an international, online workshop (WP4).
The case study in Tanzania has started with a two-month field visit in Tanzania for data collection and input from different stakeholders and included also a stakeholder workshop. The case study in Peru has progressed well and has also resulted in a workshop.
Through the hop-on instrument, BAMBOO was expanded with SGS Portugal, and they have started work on two additional case studies focusing on retailers.
So far, there are four scientific articles published or accepted for publication (1 WP1, 2 WP2, 1 WP4), with several others in submission and preparation.
Methodological development in WP1 and WP2 regarding impact assessment methods is ongoing. The development of a model for ocean acidification is finished and delivered (D1.1).
The expansion of FABIO (WP3) was delivered (D3.1) with further refinements still ongoing. At the same time, the trade models have been applied to several case studies with manuscripts, e.g. on the biodiversity impact of wood supply chains, currently under review.
The scenario development has started and has been discussed at an international, online workshop (WP4).
The case study in Tanzania has started with a two-month field visit in Tanzania for data collection and input from different stakeholders and included also a stakeholder workshop. The case study in Peru has progressed well and has also resulted in a workshop.
Through the hop-on instrument, BAMBOO was expanded with SGS Portugal, and they have started work on two additional case studies focusing on retailers.
So far, there are four scientific articles published or accepted for publication (1 WP1, 2 WP2, 1 WP4), with several others in submission and preparation.
We have finished some characterization factor models in WP1 and WP2, as well as some of the trade models (WP3), while for others work is ongoing. We have started the integration into LC-IMPACT.
In order to ensure good uptake after the end of the project, the integration into a consistent package of methods is crucial. We cover this in Task 1.6. However, as the focus in BAMBOO is on biodiversity, we integrate the newly developed methods and update the most relevant existing ones for the Area of Protection called “Ecosystem Quality” only. Similar efforts would be needed to update impacts on human health and the remaining impact categories for biodiversity, which are beyond the scope of BAMBOO.
In addition, a dialogue with software providers is needed to facilitate an inclusion of the new models in their software. Only then will the results from BAMBOO be used beyond the scientific community. We have a dialogue with both Pré (SimaPro) and the Brightway developers and hope that the method will be integrated there. If that is the case, the availability of the project results for users would be greatly increased. Uptake will, however, take some time, since many LCA practitioners prefer to use the standard methods they are used to, instead of new methods.
In order to ensure good uptake after the end of the project, the integration into a consistent package of methods is crucial. We cover this in Task 1.6. However, as the focus in BAMBOO is on biodiversity, we integrate the newly developed methods and update the most relevant existing ones for the Area of Protection called “Ecosystem Quality” only. Similar efforts would be needed to update impacts on human health and the remaining impact categories for biodiversity, which are beyond the scope of BAMBOO.
In addition, a dialogue with software providers is needed to facilitate an inclusion of the new models in their software. Only then will the results from BAMBOO be used beyond the scientific community. We have a dialogue with both Pré (SimaPro) and the Brightway developers and hope that the method will be integrated there. If that is the case, the availability of the project results for users would be greatly increased. Uptake will, however, take some time, since many LCA practitioners prefer to use the standard methods they are used to, instead of new methods.