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July 18, 2006
Yet more on biofuels
In a recent press release, Lester Brown offered some observations regarding competition between humans and automobiles for food resources. See http://www.earth-policy.org/Updates/2006/Update55.htm
I share his concern. American society might be expected to opt for biofuel production instead of food production, but the situation becomes separated from this kind of choice when investors get involved. Instead of a cars vs food decision, there is an impersonal decision to invest in a biofuel facility. The investor, if he or she even thinks about the ramifications, probably feels kind of good about doing something that seems to be sustainable. But the business created with the investor's money simply bids in the grain market for feedstock, driving up the cost of food.
The immense disconnect here is that people probably think biofuels can replace gasoline gallon-for-gallon. No way can that happen. Increased fuel economy has to be part of the solution, and -- get ready for the really bad part -- we have to drive less.
Grist Magazine -- you must subscribe! -- has a pair of articles today: http://www.grist.org/news/daily/2006/07/18/#2
Scroll down to the first one, which tells the woeful tale of fuel (dis)economy in automobiles sold in the U.S. A little farther down is an article about the threat to the Amazon rain forest posed by soy farmers selling to Cargill.
Posted by aquacura.com at July 18, 2006 02:48 PM