The Importance of Perennial Grasses as a Feedstock for Bioenergy and Bioproducts

This chapter describes the increasing importance of perennial grasses as a biomass source for both energy and nonenergy applications in Europe. Special emphasis is given to the current legislation on renewable energy and concerns regarding the use of food crops for first-generation biofuel production that led to food versus fuel debates, land use change scenarios, and other environmental concerns. Perennial grasses as the “ideotype” of bioenergy crops, bioenergy chains involving perennial grasses, environmental sustainability, and future research perspectives to bring these species into cropping systems are also underlined. Perennial grasses are lignocellulosic, low-cost feedstock, able to grow in variegate environments and to thrive on marginal lands. They have been indicated as the leading candidate feedstock for the modern biobased economy to produce a number of high added-value products (i.e., biopharmaceuticals, nutrient supplements, biopolymers), biomaterials (i.e., buildings, phonic insulating, mulching and biodegradable products for gardening and animal bedding), energy carriers (advanced biofuels, heat and power), and by-products (i.e., soil organic fertilizers, green chemistry products). However, research is still needed in breeding, agronomy, postharvest logistics, and bioconversion to deliver new elite varieties to expand the European market and allow potential yield and desired biomass quality to be reached, while maximizing resources and conversion efficiencies