Skip to main content

Is Biofuels our future?

                                                                                                          source: NSW office of biofuels
Today there has been much hype on the topic of biofuels. For some it’s an opportunity for new business, creating new innovation or more income through increased agricultural activity. Many governments recognise biofuel as “sustainable energy source” versus some as a way to move away from                                                
dependency on oil reach countries. Fossil fuel creates so much of carbon dioxide and pollutes our air and affects human’s livelihood. It has been well recognised that fossil fuel are harming our environment and needs to be replaced. At the same time fossil fuels are non-renewable resources which have a limit and humans are not far from reaching out those limits.

Biofuel is considered as a substitute of fossil fuel and largely involved in producing ethanol from various plants. Currently biofuel is produced from corn, soybean, rapeseed, oil palm and sugarcane. Many biofuel producers are demanding more and more of these plants for their production. Biofuel is not something new or invented in last few years. In-fact biofuel has been used by many generations for their fuel needs; for example in past or even today many poor people use plant based fuel for cooking and lighting lamp at night. Coconut oil is a good example of this. Continuously increasing demand of biofuel due to its renewable nature and recognition of alternative to fossil fuel has put pressure on farmers to produce more. It is possible that more of these plants will be diverted to producing ethanol instead of sending it for food consumption. Data shows that around 40% of the earth’s land has been converted for the purpose of agriculture. In 1960 world population was around 3 billion and in 2012 it has reached 7 billion. Humans have increased production of crops through industrialisation and use of various chemical fertilisers. We have cultivated more land in last 50years to feed the world yet today in the world there are around 800 to 900 million people are starving and going to bed without food and we are promoting to divert possible food stock to produce fuel so that we can drive our cars.

Increasing demand of biofuels will shoot up food prices and it may mean that those living under poverty lines have no or very less access to basic food items. To solve one problem of climate change we are inviting many other problems associated with the production of biofuel. Some of the corn production and its prices have already gone up in US. Products made out of corn have witnessed price increase in last decade. In 2006 the department of agriculture in US made statement that the world grain consumption will increase by 20 million tons. Out of 20 million around 14 million will be used for biofuel and only 6 million will be left for food consumption. AsiaSentinel reported on 14th Dec 2006 that Malaysia and Indonesia will allocate 40% of combined annual palm oil yield for biodiesel production. This decision would have tremendous pressure on basic items made up of palm oil. Indonesia has the 2nd highest rate of deforestation in the world. Clearing forest for palm oil plantation is the leading cause of deforestation.

It is very unfortunate that we have ignored the impact of biofuel in the hope of finding alternative solution of fossil fuel. Deforestation will accelerate, and food prices will increase, less feedstock for animal and all of these will contribute to climate change. After all it does not stop usage of fossil fuel since it is heavily used in order to produce biofuel. Currently majority of plants use fossil fuel to produce biofuel. Their plants, machinery, logistics, transport and many other surrounding supports uses huge amount of fossil fuel.

Time is very crucial and the effect of biofuel may be reversible in next 10 to 20years from now on. The world really needs to demand strict international policies in order to provide sustainable solution instead of just an alternate solution. One of the sustainable solutions that are available today is through capturing of CO2 and harvesting algae. Algae produced from CO2 can be used for biofuel or spirulina. The leftover from algae biofuel production can be used as a feedstock for animals. I hope that the government and other international organisations support the sustainable solutions rather than quick fixes.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Climate Change Policy Response – A Case of China

Climate Change Policy Response – A Case of China Introduction Global climate change and its adverse effects are a common concern of mankind. Ever since the industrial revolution, human activities, especially the massive consumption of energy and resource by developed countries in the process of industrialisation, have increased the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases, produced conspicuous impacts on the natural ecosystems of the earth, and posed severe challenges to the survival and development of human society (National Development and Reform Commission, 2008) . The ultimate goal of the United Nations Framework convention on Climate Change is “stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” Such a level should be achieved within a “time frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened, a...
1 comment
Read more

Six “Know Thys” of Sustainability

April 26, 2013 — The challenges humanity faces today are perhaps our greatest in history. Over the next 50 years, fortunes will be gained and lost, companies will rise and fall, leaders will come and go. With so much at stake and so much to change, a properly motivated and equipped individual can have a profound impact. No matter where you come from, where you work or what your career path, sustainability gives each of us a unique opportunity to leave our mark. With that in mind, here are six things you must know to prepare yourself for successful sustainability efforts in business. These six “know thys” can help you focus on the right areas, contribute to useful dialogue, convene the relevant players, collaborate for visionary change and deploy resources for lasting outcomes. Know Thy Planet Our planet is an extremely complex system of elements that interact according to the intractable laws of science. But humankind’s heavy footprint has put the planet’s natural sy...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Value of Vultures - What’s a vulture worth? A lot more than you might think.

Illustration by Kelsey King June 4, 2014 — Editor’s note: The following is excerpted from What Has Nature Ever Done For Us? How Money Really Does Grow on Trees   (2013) by Tony Juniper. In the book the author explores the economic value of nature, pointing to examples of natural services that are (or were) provided for free by nature, and which are being removed at our cost.  Juniper argues that in light of this realization we should stop treating natural systems in a destructive manner. Published here with permission from Synergetic Press.   One bright clear morning in April 1993 I was aboard a British Airways 747 that was preparing to land at New Delhi Airport in India. As the aircraft started its final descent from about 1,000 meters, I noticed vultures. Their broad wings, with flight feathers spread out like a span of long fingers, had taken them to the height of the plane. From this vantage point their incredibly sharp vision would enable them to scan t...
Post a Comment
Read more