Bioenergy development may create opportunities and risks. In order to ensure that the development of the bioenergy sector fosters both food and energy security, and that it contributes to agricultural and rural development in a sustainable and climate-smart way, the risks need to be properly identified, prevented and managed.

The BEFS Approach offers tools and guidance that can help policy-makers prevent and manage environmental and socio-economic risks associated with bioenergy development, including:

• Good practices that can help minimize the risks and increase the opportunities associated with bioenergy production;
• Policy instruments that can be used to require or promote good practices in bioenergy production and to discourage bad practices;
• Short guidance on tenure related issues in the context of bioenergy development, at both national and project levels; and
• A report on Smallholders in Global Bioenergy Value Chains and Certification, discussing both opportunities and risks for smallholders presented by the global bioenergy market and by bioenergy certification schemes.