But the pummeling hasnt been by chance its part of a concerted effort spearheaded by the grocery manufacturers association and the glover park group. If the false debate distracts attention from the difficult policy task of aiming both fuel economy and ethanol at the same target, then by 2017 we will be burning more gasoline, emitting more. And because it is cornbased ethanol that is at the heart of the u. It is typically measured by the distance a vehicle can travel on a gallon of gasoline kilometers per gallon or miles per gallon. The food versus fuel debate manohar parrikar institute for. It centred on whether the us governments corn ethanol mandate squeezed scarce grain supplies and pushed up. Very little ink or airtime is given to the other biofuels, especially fuels from nonfood sources, fuels from waste and fuels from new crops like algae.
This years drought, along with recent news reports of the lowest corn yield in 17 years, has rekindled the food vs. The primary concern here is that biofuel production reduces food production, and it is assumed that this competition drives up food prices. The effect of biofuel policies article in american journal of agricultural economics 952 october 2011 with 234 reads how we measure reads. Food vs fuel is the dilemma regarding the risk of diverting farmland or crops for biofuel s production in detriment of the food supply on a global scale. Sep 05, 2016 a few years ago the food versus fuel debate raged in washington.
So the epa should reduce the 20 mandates for biofuels, not only for cellulosic but also for. In the united states, the biofuel debate largely concerns corn, the source of virtually all american fuel ethanol. It centred on whether the us governments corn ethanol mandate squeezed scarce grain supplies and pushed up food prices. In this paper, we use the debate on food versus fuel as a lens to examine the interdependencies between the multiple enduses of feedstocks. Three ethical critiques can be leveled at the food vs. The food versus fuel debate is arguably one of the most hotly discussed topics in bioenergy research. However, use of these crops for biofuel production rather than food has attracted some criticism. Brazils scientific community is scoping out the longterm macro implications of the nations alternative fuels programme. The food and agricultural organization fao has proposed that the terms of. I have a bachelors degree in biology, masters in both bacteriology and engineering, and a doctoral degree in engineering all a long time ago.
Sep 14, 2015 whether you have taken a side or a backseat in the discussion, the food versus fuel debate affects us all. It is a topic that certainly doesnt look likely to be resolved any time. This 38page report by the food and agriculture organization of the united nations suggests that roughly onethird of food produced for human consumption is lost. What you need to know as the trump administration battles with california, the stakes are high for consumers and the planet by jeff plungis. A few years ago the food versus fuel debate raged in washington. Whilst delivering a powerful and emotive message, in this paper we argue that food versus fuel presents a. Fuel a manufactured debate rising food and fuel prices have led the biofuel industry to take a beating on capitol hill the past few weeks. While soybased biodiesel production is increasing, it is still very small compared to cornbased ethanol. Food versus fuel is the plight regarding the risk of distracting farmland or crops for biofuels production to the drawback of the food supply. Those who have the most to lose from the rising popularity of alcohol fuels created the debate and inserted it into the public dialog. Some say growing more biofuel crops today will decrease greenhouse gas emissions, but. The biofuel and food price debate concerns wideranging views and is an abiding, controversial one in the literature. Biofuel is defined as solid, liquid or gas fuel derived from recentlydead biological material, whereas fossil fuels are derived from longdead biological material. The price of oil and energy inputs are the most important drivers of food and commodity prices, not biofuels.
Oct 10, 2016 most of the worlds biofuel is produced in the form of ethanol by fermentation of sugar cane and maize. There is disagreement about the significance of the issue, what is causing it, and what can or should be done to. A team of experts from 10 institutions released a new report, reconciling food security and bioenergy. Five things you need to know about the food vs fuel debate. Could you explain a little bit about your background and areas of research. Agriculture feeds us, but increasingly it also provides our fuel. The food versus fuel debate institute for defence studies. The biofuel and food price debate involves wideranging views, and is a longstanding, controversial one in the literature. Aug 30, 2012 agriculture feeds us, but increasingly it also provides our fuel.
Sep 23, 2008 learn the truth about how corn is used to make fuel as well as feed the world. In 2007, the federal government introduced renewable fuel standard 2 rfs2 wherein the mandated renewable fuel consumption volume was doubled to 8 billion gallons 2008 and was to gradually rise to 36 billion gallons by 2022. Food versus fuel is the dilemma regarding the risk of diverting farmland or crops for biofuels production to the detriment of the food supply. Lee rybeck lynd from the thayer school of engineering at dartmouth explains more about the food vs fuel debate. Its about much more than corn cellulosic biofuels arent ready for prime time. The foodversusfuel debate is a controversy embedded in this challenge, involving the tradeoffs of utilizing grains and oilseeds for biofuels production versus animal feed and human food. Unlike in 2008, when a wave of global panic over grain supplies provoked a fierce food vs fuel debate, theres so far only muted outcry over. A longstanding myth surrounding the biofuels industry has centered on the food vs fuel debate, which claims that increased production of cornbased biofuels such as ethanol have led to higher food prices. The fuel ethanol consumption made from corn grew at a cagr of % between 200516. Organization fao has proposed that the terms of the debate be moved from food versus fuel to food and fuel. A key objective of this paper is to provide an assessment of the current and future situation on the food versus fuel debate and to contribute to possible alternatives to minimise or avoid future conflict.
Some theorists argue that increased production of corn to make ethanol, a gasoline alternative, is already contributing. The european commission issues a new set of recommendations on biofuel production. Food vs fuel debate the food versus fuel debate is, in short, a dispute over the impact of biofuel. Biofuel is a generic term that refers to fuel derived from biological raw materials.
The source of the food versus fuel debate is fuel alcohols most dangerous competitor the oil industry. Nov 12, 20 some of the numbers used in the food vs. Theoretically, biofuels can be produced from any biological carbon source. For additional information global food losses and food waste. Fuel economy standards are regulations on the efficiency of vehicle engines. However, as with other aspects of the food vs fuel debate, the question of winners and losers is a complex one. Risks and opportunities suggests that the impact of biofuel production on food prices is actually less than 1%. New data published in global food security indicate that animals primarily consume foods not fit for human consumption and meat production requires less cereals than generally reported. The term biofuel is often erroneously used in the food verses fuel debate. Daniel kammen, director of the renewable and appropriate energy laboratory at the university of california, berkeley, said the foodversusfuel debate is a big red herring because the u.
Oct 07, 2007 we have covered the complex and controversial food for fuel debate many times before, most notably here, here and here. The recent drop in oil prices and global food price index should finally put an end to the food vs. A serious omission on the corn to ethanol debate is the fact that most of the energy input to making ethanol in this way comes. In sharp contrast to food crops, which people have been growing and breeding for millen nia, research on most energy crops is still in its infancy. Agricultural output has always had competing demands and markets food for human consumption animal feed fibre and now fuel the dilemma is the diversion of farm land or crops to produce bioenergy to the detriment of the food supply on a global scale. So before the eu takes a wrong turn on the road to decarbonization, consider these five things you need to know about the socalled food vs fuel debate in europe. Its time to stop thinking in terms of food versus fuel. We have covered the complex and controversial food for fuel debate many times before, most notably here, here and here. Reviewing the food v fuel debate briefing prepared by zoltan szabo, phd june 2015 introduction feeding 910 billion people by the middle of the century and preventing dangerous climate change are two of the greatest challenges facing humanity. This debate generally surrounds whether it is a good idea to regulate or raise the regulations on fuel economy. While years after the facts and reality continue to disprove the assertion that american farmers cannot produce enough to meet both food and fuel demands, this myth continues to live on and is accepted as fact by people who in other aspects of their life seem sane.
The food versus fuel debate is, in short, a dispute over the impact of. May, 2015 end the food vs fuel debate the recent drop in oil prices and global food price index should finally put an end to the food vs. Students evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of conventional and alternative transportation fuels in a debate format. Wood chips, animal fat, algae, seed oil, corn and sugar are some examples of feed stocks that can be used to produce biofuel for various applications. The methodology relies first on a feed classification that considers whether each feed material is edible or produced on a land that could be used to grow humanedible plants figure 1. More fuel for the foodfeed debate new fao study indicates that livestock primarily consume foods not fit for human consumption and meat production requires less cereals than generally reported in 2050, the world will count 9. Biofuels has invited a panel of international experts, covering a wide range of expertise from policy and economics to advanced feedstocks and technological advances to express their views on the debate. It isnt that simple, but these three graphs shed some light on the food vs.
The story begins in 2008 when the global food crisis sparked a heated debate about the role of biofuel production in global food price increases. Fuel debate ben ridley, credit suisse ag drawing extensively on the fao statistical yearbook 2012, and the oecd. Vehicle fuel economy standards debatepedia, debate. Most of the worlds biofuel is produced in the form of ethanol by fermentation of sugar cane and maize.
Impact of ethanol use on food prices and greenhousegas emissions pdf, congress of the united states. There is disagreement about the significance of the issue, what is causing it, and what can or should be done to remedy the situation. Because farmers have increased yields by 64% and decreased per bushel energy use by 44% since 1980, using old numbers can result in wrong conclusions. The momentum of biofuel expansion seen during the decade of 2000 has not continued since 2010 due to several factors. A study led by fao and published in global food security aims to inform the debate on the contribution of animal production to food security mottet et al. The price of oil and energy inputs are the most important drivers. The primary concern here is that biofuel production reduces food production, and it is assumed that this competition drives up. Such claims have been backed by the perception that the implementation of the renewable fuel.
Whether you have taken a side or a backseat in the discussion, the food versus fuel debate affects us all. Jun 15, 2016 a team of experts from 10 institutions released a new report, reconciling food security and bioenergy. Transportation fuels debate free pdf download the need. Lee rybeck lynd from thayer school of engineering at dartmouth explains more about the food vs fuel debate. In 2007, the united states, for instance, saw a major debate surrounding raising its corporate average fuel economy standards cafe, and whether to raise them from 27. By the end of 2008, says agricultural economist jay oneil of kansas state university, 18% of the u. Ron plain from the university of missouri talk about the myths surrounding the food vs. End the food vs fuel debate ethanol producer magazine. Thompson 1,2,3 1 department of philosophy, michigan state university, east lansing, mi 488241032, usa.
This post will explore the growing connections between our food and fuel, and the consequences of linking these critical systems. Feb 14, 2011 they are likely doing so in vain, say experts. The biofuel and food price debate involves wideranging views, and is a. But cellulosic ethanol chemically identical, but produced from the woody parts of plants is still in its infancy, with commercial production mostly a gleam in producers. Food or fuel debate leads to eu biofuel changes europe.
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