Begun in 2009, the Global Sustainable Bioenergy (GSB) initiative seeks to contribute to a sustainable world by expanding, disseminating, and applying knowledge of producing bioenergy on a very large scale in ways that benefit people and the environment. The project’s working hypotheses are:
- That it is possible to "make room" for bioenergy while honoring other land use priorities.
- That a systematic approach to food and bioenergy production could positively and synergistically impact multiple challenges facing humanity.
Distinctive features of the project are its global scope and participation as well as a forward-looking approach unconstrained by current practices and trends.
Stage 1 of the initiative, involving five continental conventions was held in 2010 to identify opportunities, challenges, and analytical approaches. .
Stage 2 explored whether and how it is physically possible for bioenergy to sustainably meet a substantial fraction of future demand for energy services (e.g. a quarter of primary energy supply, consistent with recent low carbon scenarios) while feeding humanity and meeting other needs from managed lands, including preserving wildlife habitat, and maintaining environmental quality.
The Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) has been the primary sponsor of the GSB initiative, through research grants awarded after a peer-review process. In addition to FAPESP, Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) and the BE basic program (Netherlands) supported the GSB initiative through the activities of members of the GSB Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and support of research personnel.
FAPESP aims to support research consistent with GSB objectives that contributes to development of human and institutional resources for science and technology within the State of São Paulo, Brazil, and:
- targets the intersection between real-world impact and rigorous scholarship;
- fosters participation of Brazilian researchers in the global bioenergy debate and related international research collaborations;
- is responsive to the needs of developing countries.
The GSB Initiative is being developed through a set of coordinated projects proposed to FAPESP. These projects address bioenergy production capacity and social and economic influences in developing countries, geospatial analysis, alternative production models and value chains, social aspects, environmental aspects, and integrated analysis.
Broadly speaking, this research focuses on two complementary levels:
- Global level. Global analysis of the contribution of biomass-derived energy without restriction to feedstocks or products emphasizing evaluation of long-term potential.
- Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa (LACAf) level: dealing with opportunities for ethanol and electricity production from sugar cane in countries in the LACAf region, emphasizing near- to medium-term initiatives.