Biofuel Impacts on World Food Supply: Use of Fossil Fuel, Land and Water Resources

Abstract

Abstract:The rapidly growing world population and rising consumption of biofuels are increasing demand for both food and biofuels. This exaggerates both food and fuel shortages. Using food crops such as corn grain to produce ethanol raises major nutritional and ethical concerns. Nearly 60% of humans in the world are currently malnourished, so the need for grains and other basic foods is critical. Growing crops for fuel squanders land, water and energy resources vital for the production of food for human consumption. Using corn for ethanol increases the price of U.S. beef, chicken, pork, eggs, breads, cereals, and milk more than 10% to 30%.

Improved bio-energy yields via sequential ethanol fermentation and biogas digestion of steam exploded oat straw

“…The main raw materials used for fuel ethanol fermentation have typically been sugar and starch crops, but there is a growing concern that bioenergy and food production cannot continue to compete for the same resource base without the risk of shortages (Pimentel et al, 2008). Lignocellulose is the obvious main resource to be employed in the future because of its high abundance and ubiquitous presence in waste from the agricultural and forestry industries.…”

The Campus Demotechnic Index: a comparison of technological energy consumption at US colleges and universities

“…Furthermore, several studies conducted on inputs required for energy derived from biomass such as corn, wood, sugarcane, and cellulose materials renders this type of energy unsustainable in that these processes ultimately consume resources (water, land, energy) necessary to the human population (Patzek 2004;Patzek and Pimental 2005;Pimentel et al 2008). However, the CDI project in itself is an action to expand research to achieve carbon neutrality in that it is a tool which quantifies a baseline assessment of fossil fuel consumption (and associated GHG emissions) and tracks progress of this consumption over time in its CDI calculations.…”

Using the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix to synthesize biofuel and bioenergy impact assessment results: the example of medium scale bioenergy heat options

“…regarding the life cycle performance of feed crops for biofuels (Pimental et al, 2008). In addition the vexed phenomenon of iLUC is now formally acknowledged at EC level (Euractive, 2013).…”