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Biofuels: An advisable strategy?

Biofuels have been an increasingly hot topic on the discussion table in the last few years. The main argument behind the policies in favour of biofuels is based on the idea that biofuels would not increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. However, a more careful analysis of the life cycle of biodiesel reveals that the energy (and CO2) savings is not so high as it might even be negative.

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Keywords: biofuels, advisable, strategy, biofuel

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1. Asia-Pacific nations urged to study biofuels more carefully
   09-20-2007 · EurekAlert!
   Scientists say there is an urgent need to support the current rush toward major decisions on biofuel policies in Asia and the Pacific with solid research and unbiased information about their potential benefits, impact and risks.
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2. The race for biofuels driving alternative sources of biomass
   10-26-2007 · EurekAlert!
   Research presented on Nov. 6-7 at the ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings will examine the future of biomass for biofuel production and will look at how several regional species could be grown for biofuels.
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3. DOE JGI plumbs termite guts to yield novel enzymes for better biofuel production
   11-21-2007 · EurekAlert!
   Termites may provide the biochemical means to a greener biofuel future. The bellies of these tiny beasts harbor a gold mine of microbes that have now been tapped as a rich source of enzymes for improving the conversion of biomass to valuable biofuels. The genomic sequencing and analysis of the termite gut microbes by the US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute are highlighted in the Nov. 22 edition of the journal Nature.
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4. Going Native: Diverse grassland plants edge out crops as biofuel
   12-09-2006 · Science News Online
   Biofuels made from mixtures of plants native to prairies can yield more net energy than do biofuels derived from corn and soybeans.
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5. Government of Canada calls on industry to participate in new biofuels initiative
   12-03-2007 · EurekAlert!
   More Canadians will soon be putting cleaner biofuels in their vehicles such as ethanol and biodiesel. The Honorable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today announced program details and eligibility requirements for $1.5 billion in biofuel production incentives available through the Government of Canada's ecoENERGY for Biofuels initiative.
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6. Smithsonian scientists highlight environmental impacts of biofuels
   01-03-2008 · EurekAlert!
   Biofuels reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in comparison to fossil fuels. In the Jan. 4 issue of the journal Science, Smithsonian researchers highlight a new study that factors in environmental costs of biofuel production. Corn, soy and sugarcane come up short. The authors urge governments to be far more selective about which biofuels they support, as not all are more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels.
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7. U of Minnesota study: Destroying native ecosystems for biofuel crops worsens global warming
   02-07-2008 · EurekAlert!
   Turning native ecosystems into "farms" for biofuel crops causes major carbon emissions that worsen the global warming that biofuels are meant to mitigate, according to a new study by the University of Minnesota and the Nature Conservancy.
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8. Nature Conservancy study raises major questions on biofuels
   02-07-2008 · EurekAlert!
   A new Nature Conservancy study finds that converting land for biofuel crops results in major carbon emissions, actually worsening the problem of global warming instead of mitigating it. "This research examines the conversion of land for biofuels and asks the question 'Is it worth it?' Does the carbon you lose by converting forests, grasslands, and peatlands outweigh the carbon you 'save' by using biofuels instead of fossil fuels? And surprisingly, the answer is no,? said lead author Joe Fargione, a scientist for The Nature Conservancy.
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9. Biofuel economics
   08-08-2007 · EurekAlert!
   "Second generation" biorefineries -- those making biofuel from lignocellulosic feedstocks like straw, grasses and wood -- have long been touted as the successor to today's grain ethanol plants, but until now the technology has been considered too expensive to compete. However, recent increases in grain prices mean that production costs are now similar for grain ethanol and second generation biofuels, according to a paper published in the first edition of Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining.
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10. Research Aims For More Efficiency In Harvest And Handling
    09-30-2006 · ScienceDaily
    Kevin Shinners wants farmers to put less energy into harvesting and handling biofuel crops - less fuel, less time and less labor. As a field machinery specialist, Shinners has worked to improve the efficiency of harvesting forage for animals. Harvesting biomass crops poses similar challenges, he says.
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