Brussels, 11th of December, 2024. Task Force 3.2 releases a factsheet to accompany its report, “Feedstock Production on Marginal and Contaminated Land – An EU-Wide Potential Assessment.” This factsheet summarises key findings from the report, including definitions, mapping, opportunities and barriers, and the policy context surrounding marginal and contaminated lands.
Lacking a clear definition in the EU, marginal lands generally refer to less productive areas for traditional agriculture. JRC guidelines identify limitations like adverse climate, excessive wetness, or low soil fertility. Per the Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU), contaminated lands are areas where pollutants or hazardous substances in the soil, water, or groundwater pose a risk to human health or the environment. Other types of lands include unused, abandoned and degraded lands.
Marginal and contaminated lands can help recovering lands for biomass production potentially supporting the 35 bcm biomethane target, contribute to avoid competition with food production by reducing the risk of ILUC (Indirect Land Use Change), preventing abandonment of lands reducing the risk of desertification due to climate change, and promoting carbon farming contributing to mitigate climate change.
The report highlights initiatives that mapped marginal and contaminated lands, a review of the most recent EU-funded projects, and the policy context at EU level.
