NOVELTY - Biomass torrefaction comprises: producing combustion gases using an oxidation catalyst; and introducing the resultant combustion gases into a torrefaction reactor.    USE - The method is useful for biomass torrefaction (claimed) for producing torrefied products e.g. wood, bark, agricultural and crop materials.    ADVANTAGE - The method: is relatively simple, has low-cost reactor design and ease of scale-up and/or low air emissions for nitrogen oxides (e.g. nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide), carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds; exhibits improved energy efficiency through heat integration and direct use of combustion gases in the torrefaction reactor and/or cooler, and/or precise control of key product variables (reactor residence time and temperature) for consistency and uniformity of product; utilizes process gas and air cooling eliminating need of cooling water and inert gas for cooling; has a flexible design that allows production of pelletized torrefied biomass, non-pelletized torrefied biomass or pelletized non-torrefied biomass, and/or minimal or reduced utilities infrastructure costs; utilizes oxidation catalyst that generates a low-oxygen inert gas stream suitable for safely cooling hot torrefaction products whether the cooler is integrated with the reactor or not, providing more cost-effective cooling thus allowing lower capital and operating costs; allows the recovery of heat from the cooler that improves heat integration and reduces energy costs; and allows reuse of the resultant combustion gases directly in a torrefaction reactor, a cooler and/or a dryer/preheater.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a system (100) for biomass torrefaction comprising a catalyst system including an oxidation catalyst, where resultant combustion gases produced thus are directly reusable by the system to support torrefaction of biomass and/or to support cooling of torrefied biomass.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic process flow diagram representative of a torrefaction system and process for producing torrefied products from cellulosic biomass.    Torrefaction system (100)    Dryer or preheater (104)    Torrefaction reactor (108)    Cooler (112)    Catalyst system (124)