Assessing farmers' willingness to sell straw for energy and material applications in Sweden
Blennow, Kristina LU ; Anander, Elin ; Björnsson, Lovisa LU
and Börjesson, Pål
LU
(2026)
In Energy Policy
209(B).
- Abstract
- This study examines farmers' willingness to sell straw for energy and material applications in Scania, Sweden. Using interviews and surveys, we tested three empirical consequences derived from the premise that missing data on farmers' willingness to sell straw for energy may misrepresent the biomass supply in potential assessments. Findings reveal willingness to sell straw depends on end use, with farmers preferring benefits like manure in barter arrangements over bioenergy. Land tenure is key; those leasing over 50 % of their land are more likely to be willing to sell. Contrary to expectations, straw supply is not highly price-sensitive; competing uses like animal bedding influence decisions. Up to 57 % (95 % CI: 42–75) of cereal and... (More)
- This study examines farmers' willingness to sell straw for energy and material applications in Scania, Sweden. Using interviews and surveys, we tested three empirical consequences derived from the premise that missing data on farmers' willingness to sell straw for energy may misrepresent the biomass supply in potential assessments. Findings reveal willingness to sell straw depends on end use, with farmers preferring benefits like manure in barter arrangements over bioenergy. Land tenure is key; those leasing over 50 % of their land are more likely to be willing to sell. Contrary to expectations, straw supply is not highly price-sensitive; competing uses like animal bedding influence decisions. Up to 57 % (95 % CI: 42–75) of cereal and oilseed land could be made available for energy, though agronomic and competing use limit this potential. These results challenge viewing straw as a residue and highlight the need for region-specific policies reflecting land tenure, local practices, and agronomic priorities. Integrating nutrient recycling, diversified straw uses, and agroecosystem planning could enhance biomass availability and agricultural sustainability. Further research should assess effectiveness, including carbon farming regulations. This study offers insights for aligning bioenergy goals with agricultural sustainability in biomass policy. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/a10c5200-c4a5-4f05-b314-c1e606d07844
- author
- Blennow, Kristina
LU
; Anander, Elin
; Björnsson, Lovisa
LU
and Börjesson, Pål
LU
- organization
-
- Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
- Fossil to Biobased (research group)
- LTH Profile Area: The Energy Transition
- Environmental and Energy Systems Studies
- LTH Profile Area: Food and Bio
- LU Profile Area: Nature-based future solutions
- BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate
- publishing date
- 2026-02
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Energy Policy
- volume
- 209
- issue
- B
- article number
- 114980
- publisher
- Elsevier
- ISSN
- 1873-6777
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114980
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- a10c5200-c4a5-4f05-b314-c1e606d07844
- date added to LUP
- 2025-11-25 17:55:45
- date last changed
- 2025-11-26 16:45:55
@article{a10c5200-c4a5-4f05-b314-c1e606d07844,
abstract = {{This study examines farmers' willingness to sell straw for energy and material applications in Scania, Sweden. Using interviews and surveys, we tested three empirical consequences derived from the premise that missing data on farmers' willingness to sell straw for energy may misrepresent the biomass supply in potential assessments. Findings reveal willingness to sell straw depends on end use, with farmers preferring benefits like manure in barter arrangements over bioenergy. Land tenure is key; those leasing over 50 % of their land are more likely to be willing to sell. Contrary to expectations, straw supply is not highly price-sensitive; competing uses like animal bedding influence decisions. Up to 57 % (95 % CI: 42–75) of cereal and oilseed land could be made available for energy, though agronomic and competing use limit this potential. These results challenge viewing straw as a residue and highlight the need for region-specific policies reflecting land tenure, local practices, and agronomic priorities. Integrating nutrient recycling, diversified straw uses, and agroecosystem planning could enhance biomass availability and agricultural sustainability. Further research should assess effectiveness, including carbon farming regulations. This study offers insights for aligning bioenergy goals with agricultural sustainability in biomass policy.}},
author = {{Blennow, Kristina and Anander, Elin and Björnsson, Lovisa and Börjesson, Pål}},
issn = {{1873-6777}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{B}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Energy Policy}},
title = {{Assessing farmers' willingness to sell straw for energy and material applications in Sweden}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114980}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114980}},
volume = {{209}},
year = {{2026}},
}