Researching non-food crop biofuel sources
From the June 2008 edition of Agriculture Today.
Foresight about the impact on food prices and security, and the social implications for third world countries of sourcing biofuels from food crops guided NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to research second generation feedstocks.
More sustainable non-food crop feedstocks, such as agricultural and forestry waste - together with dedicated energy crops - are the preferred option.
Last October, Agriculture Today reported on NSW DPI’s research into the potential for production of biofuels, particularly ethanol, via lignocellulose, from woody plants which contain lignin and cellulose.
NSW DPI director of resources research, Rob Young, says when contemplating bioenergy production, it’s imperative to also consider broader social and environmental impacts.
"For example, clearing Asian rainforests to produce palm oil could deliver a worse overall environmental outcome than using fossil fuels," Mr Young said.
"We have also seen significant social impacts from rising food prices in developing countries that are, at least in part, due to use of agricultural crops for ethanol.
"We’re confident we’re on the right path focussing on biomass sources, but it’s too soon to tell how second generation biofuels will stack up in terms of economics.
"Overseas, billions of dollars are being spent research on second generation biofuels.
"We can’t hope to match that, so our research in DPI is focussed on applying the overseas lessons to locally relevant feedstocks, like eucalypts, which don’t interest other countries."
This month, the new United Nations (UN) special adviser on food, Olivier de Schutter, called for an immediate freeze on investment in biofuels crops which could be converted into energy instead of food.
Mr de Schutter said the pursuit of biofuels was contributing to a global food crisis threatening 100 million of the world’s poorest people.
The UN had previously warned that food prices would continue to rise, due to the higher demand from China and India and the alternative use of crops like maize and soya beans for biofuels.
