Paludiculture as paludifuture on Dutch peatlands: An environmental and economic analysis of Typha cultivation and insulation production

Marle de Jong; Ollie van Hal; Jeroen Pijlman; Nick van Eekeren; Martin Junginger

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148161

Paludiculture as paludifuture on Dutch peatlands: An environmental and economic analysis of Typha cultivation and insulation production

Sci Total Environ. 2021 Oct 20:792:148161. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148161. Epub 2021 May 31.

Authors

Marle de Jong¹, Ollie van Hal², Jeroen Pijlman³, Nick van Eekeren⁴, Martin Junginger⁵

Affiliations

¹ Louis Bolk Institute, Kosterijland 3-5, 3981 AJ Bunnik, the Netherlands; Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Vening Meinesz Building A, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, the Netherlands.
² Louis Bolk Institute, Kosterijland 3-5, 3981 AJ Bunnik, the Netherlands. Electronic address: o.vanhal@louisbolk.nl.
³ Louis Bolk Institute, Kosterijland 3-5, 3981 AJ Bunnik, the Netherlands. Electronic address: j.pijlman@louisbolk.nl.
⁴ Louis Bolk Institute, Kosterijland 3-5, 3981 AJ Bunnik, the Netherlands. Electronic address: n.vaneekeren@louisbolk.nl.
⁵ Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Vening Meinesz Building A, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: H.M.Junginger@uu.nl.

PMID: 34465063
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148161

Abstract

Paludiculture, the cultivation of crops on rewetted peatlands, is often proposed as a viable climate change mitigation option that reduces greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe), while simultaneously providing novel agricultural business options. In West Europe, experiments are ongoing in using the paludicrop cattail (Typha spp.) as feedstock for insulation panel material. Here, we use a Dutch case study to investigate the environmental potential and economic viability of shifting the use of peat soils from grassland (for dairy production) to Typha paludiculture (for cultivation and insulation panel production). Using a life cycle assessment and cost-benefit analysis, we compared the global warming potential (GWP), yearly revenues and calculated Net Present Value (NPV) of 1 ha Dutch peat soil used either for dairy production or for Typha paludiculture. We estimated that changing to Typha paludiculture leads to a GWP reduction of ~32% (16.4 t CO₂-eq ha^-1), mainly because of lower emissions from peat decomposition as a result of land-use management (-21.6 t CO₂-eq ha^-1). If biogenic carbon storage is excluded, the avoided impact of conventional insulation material is insufficient to compensate the impact of cultivating and processing Typha (9.7 t CO₂-eq ha^-1); however, this changes if biogenic carbon storage is included (following PAS2050 guidelines). Typha paludiculture is currently not competitive with dairy production, mainly due to high cultivation costs and low revenues, which are both uncertain, and will likely improve as the system develops. Its NPV is negative, mainly due to high investment costs. This can be improved by introducing carbon credits, with carbon prices for Typha paludiculture (30 years) comparable to EU-ETS prices. In conclusion, Dutch Typha paludiculture has a significant climate change mitigation potential by reducing emissions from deep drained peatlands. Nevertheless, attention is needed to increase its economic viability as this is a key aspect of the system change.

Keywords: Biomass use; Cattail; Life cycle assessment; Peatland economics; Peatland rewetting.

MeSH terms

Agriculture
Carbon Dioxide / analysis
Greenhouse Gases* / analysis
Soil
Typhaceae*
Wetlands

Substances

Greenhouse Gases
Soil
Carbon Dioxide