G20Biomass–biomass budgets and sustainable biomass potentials of G20 countries

The bioeconomy is a key strategy for addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity. By promoting the sustainable use of renewable biological resources, including agricultural crops, forests, and biomass residues, it offers opportunities to substitute greenhouse gas-intensive fossil resources in sectors such as construction, chemicals, and energy. At the same time, biomass is a fundamental component of ecosystem functioning and the global carbon cycle, meaning its use involves important trade-offs between climate mitigation, biodiversity protection, and food security. Although biomass is renewable, it is not unlimited. Land availability is finite, ecosystems are already under pressure, and increased biomass demand may intensify competition for land, water, and nutrients. While bioenergy and bio-based materials can contribute to decarbonization, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors, their sustainability depends strongly on sourcing practices, resource efficiency, and the consideration of opportunity costs, such as carbon storage in ecosystems. This highlights the need to treat biomass as a scarce resource that must be managed within ecological limits. This study aims to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of the sustainable global biomass potential and the constraints shaping its availability, with particular attention to G20 economies. It will assess whether sustainably available land-based biomass can meet current and future demand for food, feed, materials, and energy toward 2030 and 2050, and evaluate the role of technological innovation, circular economy approaches, trade, and demand-side measures in reducing potential supply–demand gaps. The study is aimed to provide a robust knowledge base to inform international policy dialogues and support the development of bioeconomy strategies that balance climate action, biodiversity conservation, and food security.