RESEARCH DIRECTIONS OF BIOMASS USE IN THE ECONOMY: LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Global challenges such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, degradation of soil and ecosystems, together with the growing demand for food, encourage the advanced countries of the world to look for new ways of production and consumption, to move from a fossil fuel-based economy to a fossil fuel-free, renewable resource-based economy. Sustainable biomass is very important in a circular economy. The global demand for biomass is constantly growing. According to the baseline scenario of the OECD forecast, global demand for biomass until 2060 will increase by 72 percent, and if the priorities of the European Green Course are implemented, the demand for biomass will increase by 40-100 percent. greater than its supply. On the other hand, the use of growing biomass presents many different challenges. Scientific literature reviews show that a number of literature sources have been published examining the use and availability of biomass from the point of view of bioenergy potential, while there are few publications examining the use of biomass for non-energy purposes or its potential for the development of a sustainable bioeconomy. The purpose of this study is to examine the interpretations of the concept of biomass as an economic resource and to determine the main directions of research into its use. The research was carried out by means of a systematic review of the scientific literature. The article provides an overview of the applied concept of biomass, challenges related to its growing demand and research on its use, prepared taking into account the various uses of biomass in the economy.