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Written by Joanna Schroeder
Recent analyses of the energy and greenhouse-gas performance of alternative biofuels have ignited a controversy that may be best resolved by applying two simple principles, begins the summary from a new joint research paper entitled, Beneficial Biofuels - The Food, Energy and Environment Trilemma. The paper was published in the July 17, 2009 issue of Science.
In a world seeking solutions to its energy, environmental, and food challenges, society cannot afford to miss out on the global greenhouse-gas emission reductions and the local environmental and societal benefits when biofuels are done right. However, society also cannot accept the undesirable impacts of biofuels done wrong.
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Many people are quick to abandon all biofuels due to several of the challenges proposed with the production of first generation biofuels including indirect land use. However, science is developing solutions to these issues and the next generation of biofuels will have less negative impact. (Although the worst biofuel is better than the best gasoline in terms of negative impact.)
The authors note that done right, biofuels can be produced in large quantities and have multiple benefits, but only if they come from feedstocks produced with low life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions as well as minimal competition with food production. No one can forget the food versus fuel debate that raged last summer only to discover that it wasnt accurate.