For all uses of biomass, it is of paramount importance that we not only have information about biomass availability and its usefulness for bioprocessing for making any kind of commodity or chemicals, but that we are also aware that the use of biomass for bioprocessing often competes with a growing need for food. This chapter gives an overview of the global need for food, the potential of biomass production, and an introduction to the carbon cycle. The reader is introduced to production and collection of biomasses from land use, biomass of the future from the ocean, and biomass by separation of organic waste. Usefulness and ease of using biomass are related to composition; therefore, methods to analyze biomass composition and quality are presented.

This chapter will give you an understanding of the rationale behind the need to transform our chemical industry from one that is based on fossil fuels to one that is based on biomass. This includes reducing the use of fossil resources with the aim of avoiding pollution. Underpinning the rationale is the understanding that the carrying capacity for biomass on our Earth naturally is limited.

Users of biomass must know when the biomass is going to be delivered, which can either be seasonal or a constant delivery of biomass over the year, and they will demand a biomass of the right quality. This is obviously a challenge for the supply chain of biomass because most biomass from land or the ocean is harvested at intervals, and until used the organic components in the biomass is at risk of being lost or transformed. Our task is to provide economical and sustainable methods to store the biomass, avoiding unwanted transformation and loss of the organic components, and to reduce transport costs and spoiling. Therefore, before we make a decision on biomass management, the right logistics of sowing, harvesting, transport, storing, and pretreatment must be considered. For this purpose, you will need to have insight on pretreatment and conservation technologies, storage, transport, and transformation of biomass during handling. Knowledge that will be provided in this chapter.

Perhaps paradoxically, it is vital for any newly founded company or established business not to focus exclusively on technology development, technology maturation, and product design. Of course, having a product that performs according to specification is critical, but if the market is not well understood, you have a flawed business model, or your manufacturing costs far exceed what customers are willing to pay for your product, then even if the technology is excellent the business might fail. This chapter is devoted to basic business concepts and fundamental principles in cost accounting, analysis, and market research. Topics include an introduction to value chains, calculating capital costs of building new plants or acquiring new units for production (CapEx), operational expenditures (OpEx), learning curve analysis, and assessment of profitability. The chapter will also introduce basic tools and methods for market research, which will provide the necessary insights to position your technology in a constantly evolving market.

The introduction of bioprocessing in industry will increase the demand for biomass from agricultural fields, forests, and the marine environment (see Chapter 2). Chapter 3 will give you an understanding of the challenges related to extraction and production of biomass, which have spatial effects on land and marine use, ecosystems, and biodiversity. The collection and production of biomass must be sustainable, and contribute to biodiversity and an ethical environment as described in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 15 Life on land, SDG 14 Life below water, SDG 13 Climate action, and SDG 11 Methods. You will be introduced to life cycle analysis (LCA), which is a tool designed for broader analyses of products or whole production systems as well as analyses of the categories of policies societies implement in order to guide and regulate the production and processing of biomass.