Neglected intermediaries in bioenergy straw supply chains: Understanding the roles of merchants, contractors and agronomists in England

Helliwell, Richard; Seymour, Susanne; Wilson, Paul

Abstract

Outside of Denmark, straw-based bioenergy has seen uneven success across Europe. In the UK, straw-based bioenergy has been positioned as making a potentially important contribution to the UK government's energy and environmental objectives. However, growth of the sector has been modest and supply shortages have been experienced despite straw being anticipated as readily available in the UK and surplus to existing market requirements. This paper explores a previously under theorised and neglected aspect of this story, the role played by agricultural intermediaries, merchants, contractors and advisors. Drawing on interviews with farmers, bioenergy industry representatives, agronomists, straw merchants and contractors from three case study areas, it finds that intermediaries undertake key roles providing physical and social labour required to maintain straw supply chains. They provide baling equipment, maintain informal and formal agreements with producers and users, build and maintain trust, influence on-farm management of straw and increase supply chain resilience to market shocks. However, there is tension between agronomists who advise straw incorporation and the aims of straw merchants/bioenergy policy which seek to incentivise baling. If policy makers are committed to developing a straw-based bioenergy industry, then policy frameworks need to engage in a multi-actor approach that enables the development of committed and well-resourced intermediaries.

Citation

Helliwell, R., Seymour, S., & Wilson, P. (2020). Neglected intermediaries in bioenergy straw supply chains: Understanding the roles of merchants, contractors and agronomists in England. Energy Research and Social Science, 63, Article 101387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2019.101387

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 28, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Dec 14, 2019
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Deposit Date: Jan 6, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 15, 2020
• Journal: Energy Research & Social Science
• Print ISSN: 2214-6296
• Electronic ISSN: 2214-6296
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 63
• Article Number: 101387
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2019.101387
• Keywords: Cereal straw; Bioenergy policy; Agricultural intermediaries; Farmer decision making; Supply chains; Middle actors
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3662811
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629619302749?via%3Dihub
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Neglected intermediaries in bioenergy straw supply chains: Understanding the roles of merchants, contractors and agronomists in England; Journal Title: Energy Research & Social Science; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2019.101387; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.