Multi-level system modelling of the resource-food-bioenergy nexus in the glob...

杨利霞

Multi-level system modelling of the resource-food-bioenergy nexus in

the global south

To meet the demands for resources, food and energy, especially in fast developing countries in the Global
South, new infrastructure investments, technologies and supply chains are required. It is essential to
manage a transition that minimises the impacts on global environmental degradation while benefifits
local socio-economic development. Food-bioenergy integration optimising natural capital resources and
considering wider environmental and socio-economic sustainability offers a way forward. This study
presents an integrative approach enabling whole systems modelling to address the interlinkage and
interaction of resource-food-bioenergy systems and optimise supply chains considering poly-centric
decision spaces. Life cycle sustainability assessment, optimisation, agent-based modelling and simula
tion were coupled to build an integrated systems modelling framework applicable to the resource-food
bioenergy nexus. The model building blocks are described before their applications in three case studies
addressing agricultural residues and macro-fungi in the Philippines, sugar cane biorefifineries in South
Africa, and Nipa palm biofuel in Thailand. Our case studies revealed the great potential of untapped
biomass including agricultural waste and non-food biomass grown on marginal lands. Two value chain
integration case studies e i.e. straw-fungi-energy in Philippines and sugar-energy in Africa e have been
suggested as sustainable solutions to recover waste as value-added products to meet food and energy
security. Case studies highlight how an integrative modelling framework can be applied to address multi
level questions, taking into account decision-making at different levels, which contribute to an overall
sustainability goal.