Information Leaflet Sustainable Biomass Production Growers Agricultural Operations
2 Information leaflet - Growers Agricultural Operations What is a grower? A grower is an agricultural operation that produces biomass. In which cases must growers fulfil the requirements as to the sustainable production of biomass? A grower must fulfil the requirements as to the sustainable production of biomass, if the biomass cultivated is intended for the production of sustainable biomass in the field of bioenergy. For this purpose the grower must, in accordance with the specifications as laid down by the certification system of his first gathering point, fulfil the area-related requirements and make the data for calculating the greenhouse gas emission savings available to his first gathering point. In which areas may sustainable biomass be grown? In principle, sustainable biomass may be grown in all areas which on January 1, 2008, or on any other day in January 2008, were already qualified as agricultural areas. Grassland in fallows, set-aside areas and rotations in croprotation systems are treated in the same way as arable land. Sustainable biomass may not be grown in the following areas, or cultivation is only permitted under certain circumstances.
Information leaflet - Growers Agricultural Operations 3 Area status Characteristics In exceptional cases the sustainable biomass may come from such areas, if the following applies Primary forests No exception Areas of high value with regard to nature conservation Natural areas where domestic tree varieties grow where there are no clearly visible signs of human activity ecological processes are not visibly disturbed Areas serving purposes of nature conservation Areas designated for conservation purposes by the competent national or international authorities and serving the protection of rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems or species. Cultivation and harvesting of the biomass must not interfere with the mentioned nature protection purposes Orders and bans are to be found in the relevant protected area declarations
4 Information leaflet - Growers Agricultural Operations Area status Characteristics In exceptional cases the sustainable biomass may come from such areas, provided the following applies Areas of high value with regard to nature conservation Natural grassland with great biodiversity Without human interference Natural composition of species Ecologically intact Artificially created highdiversity grassland Region-related speciesrichness Wetlands Saturated by water, either permanently or for a considerable part of the year No exception Biomass harvesting is necessary to preserve biodiversity No exception Areas with high carbon stock Continuously forested areas Spanning more than one hectare with trees higher than five metres Tree crown canopy cover shown as percentage Status 1: 10-30% Status 2: >30% The status of the forest must not be changed due to its management
Information leaflet - Growers Agricultural Operations 5 Area status Characteristics In exceptional cases the sustainable biomass may come from such areas, provided the following applies Peatlands Sustainable agricultural management Soils showing horizons with organic material (peat substrate) which, cumulatively speaking and down to a depth of 60 cm, are at least 30 cm thick The organic material has at least 20 mass percent of organic carbon in the fine earth Within the European Union, the provisions as laid down in regulation (EG) No. 73/2009 (Cross Compliance) must be complied with for agricultural activities, and the areas shall be managed in accordance with the minimum requirements as to their good agricultural and environmental condition. There is no draining during cultivation and harvesting of the biomass. This provision only applies within the European Union.
6 Information leaflet - Growers Agricultural Operations How shall the production of sustainable biomass be documented? The grower documents the production of sustainable biomass to the first gathering point and according to the specifications of the latter s certification system. This is for example done by submitting the: Contract with the first gathering point Type and, where applicable, quantity of sustainable biomass or crop area where sustainable biomass is to be grown. Notices and proofs Proof of receipt of direct payments for the previous year and the current application for direct payments, proofs on whether or not the areas are serving purposes of nature conservation, in the case of areas that serve purposes of nature conservation, a document issued by the competent nature protection authorities stating that no obligations have been breached, or a letter of agreement stating that the certification body who is in charge of controls may contact the competent nature protection authority in order to enquire if the agricultural operation has breached any nature protection obligations.
Information leaflet - Growers Agricultural Operations 7 Self-declaration by the agricultural operation on the sustainability of biomass in accordance with the sustainability ordinances Herein the farmer declares to fulfil all requirements in relation to the sustainable production of biomass. Depending on whether the agricultural operation is situated within or outside the European Union, the enclosed relevant model form shall be used. The self-declaration shall be deposited with the first gathering point. Means of production For calculating the greenhouse gas savings, the type and quantity of the means of production applied shall be documented through pro rata allocation to the area where the sustainable biomass is cultivated, and differentiated according to: diesel, electricity, fertilizer, differentiated according to the type of fertilizer, and pesticides, differentiated according to the type of pesticides. For greenhouse gas emissions, the values actually determined shall be applied; where applicable, default values and/or disaggregated default values may be applied. How frequently are agricultural operations monitored? In the European Union a minimum of 3% of growers are monitored annually by recognized certification bodies, insofar as they are subject to the provisions as laid down in Regulation (EC) No. 73/2009 on a sustainable
8 Information leaflet - Growers Agricultural Operations management, or receive direct payments and/or aids pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 1690/2005. The same applies to growers that are registered as organizations pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 761/2001 and participate in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS). Otherwise a minimum of 5% of growers are checked annually by recognized certification bodies. In third countries a minimum of 5% of growers are monitored annually by recognized certification bodies. Where can I obtain which kind of information? The first gathering points or their certification systems and certification bodies supply specific information to the growers. Further general information about sustainable biomass production are contained in the Guidelines Sustainable Biomass Production of BLE or on the internet site www.ble.de under Kontrolle und Zulassung/Nachhaltige Biomasseherstellung / control and accreditation/sustainable biomass production).
Information leaflet - Growers Agricultural Operations 9 Model Self-declaration by the agricultural operation on the sustainability of biomass pursuant to the biomass-electricity-sustainability ordinance (BioSt-NachV) and the biofuel sustainability ordinance (Biokraft-NachV) grown within the European Union I hereby confirm that the biomass I have produced and supplied meets the requirements pursuant to the sustainability ordinances and that all supporting documentation has been submitted: 1. The biomass stems from arable land that has been arable land already prior to 1 January 2008. Furthermore, it does not come from areas worthy to be protected (Arts. 4 through 6 of the sustainability ordinances) that have been converted into arable land after 1 January 2008. 2. The biomass stems from land within special protection areas where management activities have been permitted. The requirements resulting from the special protection area status are complied with. 3. As a recipient of direct payments I am subject to cross-compliance. The biomass thus meets the requirements as to agricultural management (Arts. 7 and 51 of the sustainability ordinances). During the past calendar year I have participated in the EU direct payments scheme. I have received the administrative decision on the granting of a subsidy. I have applied / will apply for subsidies in the current calendar year. 4. The documentation on the location where the biomass is grown (proof drawn as a polygon pursuant to Art. 26 of the sustainability ordinances, or comparable proofs of the surface areas of the lots as to field blocks, field parts or cuts) has been received by me and can be accessed at any time has been made available to the first gathering point of the biomass I have supplied. 5. For calculation of greenhouse gas balancing the default value shall be applied (Art. 8 and Annex II). Note: With this self-declaration the agricultural producer acknowledges that auditors of certification bodies recognized by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) can check whether the requirements pursuant to Arts. 4 through 7 of the sustainability ordinances are complied with. It must be tolerated that they may be accompanied by BLE inspectors where applicable. Place, date Signature
10 Information leaflet - Growers Agricultural Operations Model Self-declaration by the agricultural operation on the sustainability of biomass pursuant to the biomasselectricity-sustainability ordinance (BioSt-NachV) and the biofuel sustainability ordinance (Biokraft- NachV) grown outside the European Union I hereby confirm that the biomass I have produced and supplied meets the requirements pursuant to the sustainability ordinances and that all supporting documentation has been submitted: 1. The biomass stems from arable land that has been arable land already prior to 1 January 2008. Furthermore it does not come from areas worthy to be protected (Arts. 4 through 6 of the sustainability ordinances) that have been converted into arable land after 1 January 2008. 2. The biomass stems from land within special protection areas where management activities have been permitted. The requirements resulting from the special protection area status are complied with. 3. The documentation on the location where the biomass is grown (proof drawn as a polygon pursuant to Art. 26 of the sustainability ordinances, or comparable proofs of the surface areas of the lots as to field blocks, field parts or cuts) has been received by me and can be accessed at any time has been made available to the first gathering point of the biomass I have supplied. 4. For the calculation of greenhouse gas balancing the default value shall be applied (Arts. 8 and Annex II). Note: With this self-declaration the agricultural producer acknowledges that auditors of certification bodies that are recognized by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) may check whether the requirements pursuant to Arts. 4 through 7 of the sustainability ordinances are complied with. It must be tolerated that they may be accompanied by BLE inspectors where applicable. Place, date Signature
Publisher Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) Deichmanns Aue 29 53179 Bonn Telephone: +49 (0) 2 28 99 68 45-2550 (general information) Telephone: +49 (0) 2 28 99 68 45-2500 (information on the nabisy web-application) Facsimile: +49 (0) 2 28 68 45-3040 E-mail: nachhaltigkeit@ble.de (general information) E-mail: nabisy@ble.de (Information on the nabisy web-application) Internet: www.ble.de Editor Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) Unit 412 Recognition and accredition issues, Sustainable Biomass Production, Energy Crops Design Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) Press desk Printed by MKL Druck GmbH & Co. KG, Ostbevern/W, Germany Photo/Picture credits Franz Pfluegl, Wong Hock Weng, lumenesca - Fotolia.com Ökolandbau Situation October 2010