Principles

• "Biomass production must be linked to increased energy and resource conservation. Wasteful use of fossil fuels must not be replaced with wasteful use of bioenergy, biofuels and biomaterials. Instead, significant reductions in total consumption, together with increased conservation, must be the first priority - and must take place at the same time as any increase in biobased production.
• Biomass production must be sustainable for local communities. Local strategies for agriculture and biomass production with full citizen input should be created.
• Biomass production should not impose unjust burdens on economically or socially marginal communities, including communities in the Global South.
• Large-scale production of biomass must not jeopardize food security. Biomass production must not be undertaken on land needed for food production and cannot undermine local food sovereignty.
• Safeguards must be put in place to ensure that local consumption is prioritized over transporting or exporting biomass or biomass energy and products away from the communities and regions that produce them.
• Local farmers and communities should have ownership and control over the biomass production and processing facilities. Income generated from biomass and bioenergy production should be kept to the greatest extent possible within local producing communities. Public support and incentives must be focused on small-scale and local development, production and ownership - from feedstock to processing facilities - and the creation of appropriate sectoral jobs in local communities should be promoted.
• Agricultural communities and workers must be protected. Family and smallholder farmers and peasants must not be displaced to grow or harvest biomass feedstocks, and should receive fair compensation for biomass feedstocks and the products they produce. In addition, fair wages for agricultural workers should be ensured and abusive employment relationships prohibited. The health and safety of workers and communities must be protected.
• Biomass production must be sustainable for the climate, environment and public health.
• The full life cycle of biomass production (including processing for energy) must significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As part of achieving this objective, the use of fossil fuels in the production and processing of biomass crops should be minimized, prevented whenever possible, and eventually phased out. Selection, production and use of biomass crops should also result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
• Biomass production must maintain and build soil structure and fertility and conserve water quantity and quality. Agricultural practices that promote better soil and water quality should be utilized in biomass production. Perennial biomass crops that enhance and protect soil quality, promote water retention, and reduce nutrient and chemical run-off should be prioritized.
• Biomass crop production must not encroach on forests and other intact ecosystems. Forests and other habitats or ecosystems need to be protected from encroachment by biomass crops. Protected areas must not be declassified or appropriated for biomass crop production and conversion of native ecosystems must be prevented.
• Biomass production should improve, not erode, biological diversity. This will require both the protection of previously undeveloped habitats, the use of native species and crop diversification, as well as cultivation that does not deplete soil nutrients or reduce soil biodiversity. In addition, biomass production must not involve the use of genetically engineered crops and materials, or the release of genetically engineered organisms into the environment during processing.
• Biomass crop production must minimize, and eliminate whenever possible, the use of dangerous agrochemicals. Agrochemicals that are hazardous to the environment, workers, and local communities should be used only as a last resort. Chemicals used will be non-persistent and chemicals that are endocrine disrupting, carcinogenic or mutagenic in humans should be phased out.
• Sustainable biomass standards, certification and labeling systems need to be developed, administered and supported by a democratic process.
• Local and affected populations should be ensured an opportunity for meaningful public review of and participation in development of sustainability criteria for biomass crops.
• Local stakeholders need to support and be engaged in implementation and enforcement of resulting sustainability standards, certification and labeling.
• Introduction and implementation of standards need to be preceded by public input and consideration of the impact of proposed bioenergy projects on local and community development and goals. "