Page 121 - Biorefinery 2030 Future Prospects for the Bioeconomy (2015)

3 Potential for Integration of the Upstream Value Chain 89

Not only must these technological obstacles be removed, the solutions found
must be economically acceptable. In other words, the total price of the bioethanol,
including that of the raw materials, must be competitive compared with oil-based
fuel and so-called first-generation bioethanol.
The announcement made at the beginning of July 2014 by the firm Proce ´thol 2G
of exceptional results concerning the three technological obstacles at competitive
prices is significant for different reasons:

– The Bazancourt-Pomacle biorefinery gives the project a recognised stable
location.
– The partnership supporting FUTUROL, more than just a grouping of R&D
actors, industrials and financiers, has proved extremely effective.
– The range of specific competences put to use by the partners is itself very
important (for example, the enzyme blend by IFPEN and the yeast by
LESAFFRE, are the fruit of years of research).
– The model industrial agreement between the partners on the implementation,
distribution and development of the shared effort has been developed to recon-
cile the sharing of patents and discoveries with the preferential conditions and
financial benefits targeted at the beginning of the project.
– In the near future, it should be possible to create more value from the project via
non-exclusive licencing contracts.
– Over the next 2 years, the Proce ´thol 2G board may decide to transform the
industrial pilot unit into an open platform, as was the case for BIODEMO.

The sale of SOLIANCE, the attractiveness of BIODEMO and the success of
FUTUROL 2G should not be considered as isolated or random events. They are
“proof of the concept”: the addition of an industrial platform and an innovation
platform, associated with the initial culture of the farmers and agricultural
cooperatives, has shown itself to be effective. SOLIANCE, BIODEMO and the
FUTUROL project are also three examples in which, to differing degrees, multidis-
ciplinarity, public-private complementarity, and governance have played a positive
role rather than being obstacles. They are also examples of the fulfilment of a
knowledge economy.

3 Potential for Integration of the Upstream Value Chain

As demonstrated above, a territorial biorefinery cannot operate effectively unless it
can rely on access to biomass in acceptable economic, social and environmental
conditions; in other words from local sources.
For the biomass to become more diverse and sustainable, it is helpful for a
biorefinery to benefit from upstream research capacity developing new crop
varieties and agricultural processes and thus promoting sustainable, multifunctional
agriculture. This increased knowledge and skills would benefit both agriculture and
industry.