Fuel or famine?: Farmers in countries such as the U.S. and Brazil have grown increasing amounts of crops, such as maize, for biofuels. But the growth in the industry is now being fingered in the current food security crisis.
Credit: iStockphoto
Even if next-generation biofuels will have big advantages over the present generation in terms of energy yield and non-food sources, question marks will remain.
"We will still have to use land to grow the feedstock for the biofuels, and this means there could be competition with farmland," said Roy.
One option, among many
Using virgin land to grow biofuels can raise big environmental concerns, and not just in the impact on biodiversity, said Bal.
One argument made for biofuels is that they contribute less carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere than oil, gas and coal, which have been dug out of the ground. But this equation changes if the soil being used to grow crops is virgin.
"Using prairie land, or worse, destroying a forest, releases considerable quantities of CO2 that have been stored in the soil and the trees, and the outcome could be catastrophic," said Bal.
Cautioned Roy: "Even if we find the Holy Grail, biofuels will not replace oil. At best, they will be part of the range of options to diversify energy supplies."
Non-crop biofuels to Boost Food Security
The article completely ignores algae as a fuel sourse. It can create multiples of fuel per acre,clarify brackish water, utilize co2 from power plants and other sources to feed the growth,having biodiesel as the first product and then ethanol as a product with fermentation of the residue and finally use the remaining product for feed. See GREEN STAR PRODUCTS INC COM, as one example of the sucessful use of algae for oil production. erfreud@ptd.net
Algae
Agreed this is the elephant in the room that few appear to be seeing . German laboratories are conditioning algae to live,grow and flourish in CO2 and other seemingly hostile environements. Algae fuel yields are up to 100 times crop and other non-crop sources
Yes- Algae
Algae really is the solution here- very rapid growth, no need for extensive land or water, produces food (spirulina) as well as algae oil (biofuel).
We have set up a demonstration algae machine at Ecoversity in Santa Fe which shows these processes. There are info and films posted online at Ecoversity.org.
Stephen Miller
Ecoversity
Water ?
Algae need much of water. If it expands, water consumption will increase, too. But, if we use wastewater to produce algae, it will be better way to cleaner production.
Water?
Algae need much of water. If it expands, water consumption will increase, too. But, if we use wastewater to produce algae, it will be better way to cleaner production. by HK
many sources
I think the solution is many solutions, but I agree on the algae, and would like to see more solar energy. I think the main change has to be in peoples attitudes towards energy. We have many good sources of energy - but they need to get out of the lab and into the hands of consumers. There needs to be greater demand in the marketplace for these things. when people have money they want to spend on alternative energy, then people standing to make the money will find ways the fund the research and development. The information needs to get out there. Thank you for the algae links!