The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to Land Use for Bioenergy: Synergies and Trade-offs

Bioenergy is crucial for GHG reduction but raises sustainability concerns, particularly with dedicated energy crops. Research identified 427 observations of synergies, trade-offs, or no effect, with context-specific factors like previous land use and feedstock influencing outcomes. Most synergies occur with perennial crops on marginal land, while trade-offs arise from using natural areas. Maximizing sustainability requires considering the entire land system and all land-use functions, addressing climate, biodiversity, and economic development holistically.