This briefing paper reviews evidence of the impacts of the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) on food prices, with a focus on corn and soy, and presents new analysis on the impact of the RFS on U.S. livestock farmers. Studies examining the relationship between food prices and biofuel demand conclude …
Recent increases in production of crop-based (or first-generation) biofuels have engendered increasing concerns over potential conflicts with food supplies and land protection, as well as disputes over greenhouse gas reductions. This has heightened a sense of urgency around the development of biofuels produced from non-food biomass (second-generation biofuels). This study …
To provide alternatives to petroleum-based energy, enhance global security, and reduce carbon emissions, the U.S. government has mandated a greater proportion of energy portfolio be derived from plant-based fuels (i.e., 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act; EISA). However, the potential benefits of this nascent bioeconomy may be offset by damage …
Brazilian agriculture covers about one-third of the land area and is expected to expand further. We assessed the compliance of present Brazilian agriculture with environmental legislation and identified challenges for agricultural development connected to this legislation.
With petrol and diesel prices increasing by the day, focusing on alternative energy sources, especially bio-fuel, would be the logical step. However, the bio-fuel sector is still in its infancy and hardly any research proposals are coming from the field. In this backdrop, the state Bio-fuel Task Force (BTF) has …
After CNG, the Indian Railways now wants to tap bio-diesel potential to cut down on its operational cost. The Ministry has decided to set up an integrated bio-diesel plant at Chennai. The plant will have a production capacity of 30 tonnes per day. The total cost of the project, to …
This report details trends in the renewable energy sector across the world. Finds that investment in renewable energy power capacity (excluding large hydro) in 2009 was comparable to that in fossil-fuel generation, at around $100 billion each. <br> Changes in renewable energy markets, investments, industries, and policies have been so …
India is one of the major leapfrogging economies of the world and it has demonstrated its economic resilience in the wake of the global economic debacle. It quickly recovered from the downslide and has shown positives signs of becoming an economic superpower by 2020.
Smog digest is a news service on vehicular pollution based on news clippings selected from leading Indian newspapers and newsmagazine. It also highlights the key developments from South Asian countries. The months witnessed lots of action and developments on the vehicular pollution front in India.
Algal biofuels have many advantageous characteristics that would lower impacts on environmental degradation in comparison to biofuel feedstock and in some cases improve the well-being of developing and developed communities. This report shows that, while the technology for large scale algal biofuel production is not yet commercially viable, algal production …
Food security requires comprehensive planning The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have warned that farm commodity prices, especially foodgrains, may rise by as much as 40 per cent by the end of this decade. This warning must be taken seriously given …
FUTURE GREEN cars would run by just putting a tree in the gas tank, at least that's what researchers mean as they look at forest biomass as raw materials for the development of green biofuels and chemicals. Dr In-Gyu Choi, associate professor in the department of forest science at Seoul …
Energy subsidies are often used to alleviate energy poverty and promote economic development by enabling access to affordable modern energy services. Given the critical role that energy plays in economic and social development, the reform of inefficient energy subsidies should be analyzed in a context, including their links to the …
There is an urgent need for New Delhi to draw up its own renewable energy strategy Shyam Saran / June 08, 2010, 0:38 IST The world is on the threshold of a transformational energy revolution. Established patterns of energy resource extraction and use are changing rapidly. The cumulative impact of …
Over the past decade, biofuels production in the EU and US has boomed – much of this due to government mandates and subsidies. The US has now surpassed Brazil as the world’s leading producer of ethanol. The economic and environmental impact of these biofuel programs has become an important question …
What are the best approaches for Southeast Asian countries to exploit their large renewable energy potentials? Focusing on Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, this report investigates the potentials and barriers for scaling up market penetration of renewable energy technologies in the countries
This report by OECD and FAO presents a consistent view on the evolution of global agricultural markets over the next decade and provides a baseline for further analysis of alternative economic or policy assumptions. Says that world food prices will rise this decade, boosted by a growing population and changing …
