Since the pioneering work of D. Meadows, there is continuous refining and development of novel methodologies in the field of sustainability. Sustainability remains a disputable topic, even when researchers agree on one common definition of sustainability since different sustainability aspects can be evaluated differently.
The SABIR project presents a novel, dynamic sustainability assessment tool. This tool combines temporal soil carbon modelling and greenhouse gas modelling with system dynamics models. The case studies of green biorefineries and the agriculture sector in Denmark and Latvia are used to approbate this tool.
Agriculture is the primary supply of nutrition and bioenergy and a substantial contributor to the bioeconomy. Yet, agriculture is also linked with environmental, economic, and social aspects of climate change. Therefore, climate change and agriculture are linked by complex relations, which can be difficult to define or measure. Biorefinery case studies are chosen because currently, most of the energy carriers and raw materials are supplied using non-renewable sources. At the same time, just to start using renewables instead does not mean to have sustainable systems per se. We need systems that can transform local resources efficiently, provide work-spaces and operate economically justified. Here biorefinery is viewed as a concept for sustainable, large-scale production of high added value bio-based products and fuels. Nevertheless, the overall environmental, economic and social consequences of implementing such biorefinery systems are poorly understood.
Therefore, SABIR project will aim to give two major benefits. Firstly, to present novel sustainability assessment tool by the introduction of feedback loops and, secondly, to advance studies on biorefinery concept, by outlining possible impacts and solutions.
To achieve the project’s aim six objectives are fulfilled: 1) a reference system is defined, 2) a dynamic sustainability assessment tool for the case studies is developed, 3) the developed tool is validated, 4) sensitivity analysis for the developed tool is carried out, 5) policy scenario assessment is done the developed tool and recommendations for involved stakeholders are developed, and 6) knowledge transfer and training is carried out.
