The Contested Sustainability of Biofuels in a North-South Context

Abstract

Biofuels have provided the earliest large-scale experience of bioeconomy deployment on the globe. Biofuel controversies, therefore, represent early bioeconomy contestations. Besides providing a state-of-the-art overview of biofuel technologies and production pathways, this chapter reviews various ecological and social issues related to bioeconomy promotion. It shows that, despite replacing fossil fuels or other fossil-based products, the sector's environmental sustainability is far from straightforward. From ecological issues (e.g., climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, freshwater consumption) to socio-economic ones, such as the food vs. fuel debate, the chapter reviews the potentials for rural development promotion through the bioeconomy and examines it also in terms of North-South equity. It characterizes strategies that help bridge the North-South gap and contrasts them with bioeconomy approaches that fail to address that gap-or which widen it (neocolonialist approaches). While advancing the concept of equalizing development to qualify strategies that help close that global gap, this overview expounds on the breadth of sustainability issues linked to biofuels and the bioeconomy. That is an essential step towards a critical understanding of what is at stake and of the multiple contestations in this policy area.

Waste Glycerol in the Biosynthesis of Liquid Fuels and Other Value-Added Products – a Review

“…The production of valuable products from waste glycerol is an important issue that determines the improvement of the economic viability of biofuel production and corresponds to the model of a waste-free, emission-free circular economy. Although the main source of waste glycerol is the production of liquid biofuels, this waste can paradoxically become a direct or indirect substrate for their biological synthesis [32]. Currently, effective and efficient technological solutions are being sought for the profitable production of liquid biofuels from glycerol and other value-added products [33].…”

The Biosynthesis of Liquid Fuels and Other Value-Added Products Based on Waste Glycerol—A Comprehensive Review and Bibliometric Analysis

“…The production of valuable products from waste glycerol is an important issue that determines the improvement of the economic viability of biofuel production and corresponds to the model of a waste-free, emission-free circular economy. Although waste glycerol derives mainly from the production of liquid biofuels, it can paradoxically become an immediate or intermediate substrate for their biosynthesis [57]. Currently, effective and efficient technological solutions are being sought for the profitable production of liquid biofuels from glycerol and other value-added products [58].…”

Spectrometry for better soil fertility management in Abbay River Basin

“…Contents of soil organic carbon (OC) (Vašát et al., 2017), clay (Tümsavaş et al., 2018), total nitrogen (TN), and soil texture (Vasava et al., 2019) could be predicted from reflectance. SLM practices, such as soil bunds, are crucial to ensure environmental sustainability (Bastos Lima, 2021). Bund is an engineering measure of soil conservation used for creating obstruction across the path of surface runoff to reduce the velocity of flowing water.…”