Biofuels not responsible for food crisis?

[natureguy]

People are trying left right and center to produce ethanol and other biofuels from some other sources which are as varied as colours in rainbow. Algae, Biowaste, Biomass, cultivation in sea and what not.

Sooner or later we shall find some solution to it. One thing that strikes me is that in India cultivation & production of biofuels is picking up but almost every place used for its cultivation is/previously was barren or unutilized. Actually government isn't supporting purchase of them and hence its totally end user oriented.

[rvanderlely]

The idea of using otherwise barren areas for fuel production is a good one and though more difficult than growing crops on fertile ground, I think this is an area that will soon have to be expanded.

I see no reason why algae can't be grown in artificial ponds on otherwise barren ground. Sure fresh water is an issue, but with some electricity we can make salt water fresh enough for the job. Now, we have salt water, the sun and solar technology...let me see if I can join the dots together...

[natureguy]

Originally Posted by rvanderlely

The idea of using otherwise barren areas for fuel production is a good one and though more difficult than growing crops on fertile ground, I think this is an area that will soon have to be expanded.

Not for jathropha. It grows ideally in barren lands. Needs less water and even lesser care. Gives fruits after 2-3 years & lasts for around 6-7 years.

Originally Posted by rvanderlely

I see no reason why algae can't be grown in artificial ponds on otherwise barren ground. Sure fresh water is an issue, but with some electricity we can make salt water fresh enough for the job. Now, we have salt water, the sun and solar technology...let me see if I can join the dots together...

Check this out:

Leading global air carriers Air New Zealand, Continental, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and biofuel technology developer UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, have announced they will be the first wave of aviation-related members to join the newly formed Algal Biomass Organization (ABO). Together with Boeing, which co-chairs the ABO, the airlines are advocating for the identification and acceleration of new generations of fuel sources for the industry that have lower life cycle carbon emissions; in this case sustainable algae-based biofuels.

“There is significant interest across multiple sectors in the potential of algae as an energy source and nowhere is that more evident than in aviation,” said Billy Glover, ABO co-chair and managing director of Environmental Strategy for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

“Air transportation is a vital contributor to global economic prosperity, but is being threatened by record rises in fuel costs. Together we recognize that algae have the potential to help offset those fuel costs, while also contributing to improved environmental performance for the aviation industry.”

“Algae really could be a solution to help airlines produce lower carbon emissions. Crucially, it is a source of fuel which doesn't lead to deforestation or the taking away of land or water from the cultivation of essential food crops,” said Virgin Atlantic President, Sir Richard Branson.

To effectively address a high volume of claims being made regarding algae and its potential, 400 leading global algae experts established the Algal Biomass Organization to advocate for viable algae markets and technologies. Unlike other second-generation biofuel options, algae will require technological breakthroughs to become viable and the ABO will provide a single, collective voice regarding ongoing efforts.

Algae have shown significant potential to address some of the world’s most pressing issues, such as climate and pollution concerns including carbon emission reductions, alternative fuel sources and global economic development. As one of the fastest growing and most productive plants in the world, the unique characteristics of algae enable them to be developed for a number of uses:

- Carbonyatra.com

[rc white]

The simple fact is that the Bush administration saw a political advantage in supporting ethanol, it allowed them to be seen to be doing something about the availability of fuel, and it subsidised the farmers, keeping the farm lobby happy and potentially clawing back some of the democrat congressional gains in the corn growing states.
I remember at the time Bush talking of "cellulosic" ethanol, this was just a red herring, many people having heard of this think that this is what they are producing in the USA it's not, they are using prime food crops and what they are doing with everything else I am not sure, but they are not making ethanol out of it.
I heard of one report, no doubt dismissed as lefty rhetoric by the Bush administration, That pointed out that if you made ethanol from only the freely available sugars available in corn, then the total amount of diesel fuel used in the collecting and distribution would exceed the total energy yield of the ethanol you can make, this is probably what is happening and makes a nonsence out of the whole thing, which is exactly what I would expect from Bush and his cronies.
rcw

[natureguy]

Good point RC, but whatever the report is saying, I am quite firm that

1) No foodstuff should be used to produce fuel.

2) No foodstuff cultivating land should be used to produce other resources of biofuel.

3) There should be complete ban on trading of foodstuff. It is also one of the prime factors which has lead to hike in prices of food grains.

[Corey]

Originally Posted by rvanderlely

It still baffles me that we have sufficient technology to supply energy globally without biofuels, oil or coal and we are not doing so.

Of course, the dollar is reason, and our selfish desires.

I guess they are what really baffles me. I only hope that we have a kind of awakening. Maybe $3 per litre for petrol will help that, or perhaps running out of it all together. Both of these are not unlikely in the near future.

Roger from Green Planet Solar Energy

power! Addiction! Change!

1. People with power don't want to give it up
2. Addiction oil coal easy way of doing things thus the addiction is not wanting to give up the easy life.
3.Change Most people fear change for they have little knowledge of new ways of doing things thus the security that we built up would be gone for we would be back to the drawing board of trial and error to find something else that works.