Integrating GLOBIOM into AMIGDALA: Advancing Land-Use Modeling with IIASA

By integrating its globally recognized GLOBIOM model, IIASA provides data-driven insights into the interplay between agriculture, forestry, and bioenergy—helping to ensure that climate and sustainability goals are achieved without compromising environmental integrity. Read more about IIASA’s contribution from our partners Pekka Lauri and Andrey L. D. Augustynczik.

What is the primary focus of IIASA in the AMIGDALA project?

The main role of IIASA in AMIGDALA is to quantify biomass potentials for bioenergy and material use in the EU and globally, to inform the energy modelling frameworks in the project. IIASA will also assess the effects of emerging demands for biomass on land cover and land use, quantifying the AFOLU sector contribution to decarbonization targets and the related environmental consequences.

Can you explain how IIASA’s work on the modelling and scenario frameworks will support better decision-making for the future of agriculture, forestry, and bioenergy, and what role the outputs will play in the overall project?

In the AMIGDALA modelling framework, IIASA will deploy the GLOBIOM model, a partial equilibrium model of the agriculture, forestry, and bioenergy sectors. The outputs produced by GLOBIOM will inform the energy sector models on the availability of biomass for energy and material use, consistent with climate targets in the EU and other sustainability goals. This includes the optimal combination of various feedstocks for bioenergy production, including, for example, agricultural and forestry residues, and bioenergy crops. Apart from providing estimates of biomass potentials, GLOBIOM will compute the consequences of decarbonization targets to the AFOLU sector in the AMIGDALA pathways towards climate neutrality. This includes the rational management of forests and agricultural land in a spatially explicit manner, the related GHG emissions, inputs use, biodiversity impacts, and other sustainability indicators.