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category archive listing Category Archives: biofuels

Biofuels: benefits and risks for developing countries

January 16, 2008 – 6:14 am

S. Arungu-Olende
Source: SciDev.Net
Biofuels offer huge potential, but pose challenges best countered with strong and coherent development policies, says S. Arungu-Olende.
Global production of biofuels is growing steadily and will continue to do so. Biofuels offer greater energy security, reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and particulates, rural development, better vehicle performance, and reduced demand for petroleum.
But [...]

By zephyr1 | Also posted in biodiesel, bioethanol, energy, greenhouse gas | Comments (0)

Biofuels: Let’s look before we leap

December 9, 2007 – 1:15 am

SciDev.net
6 December 2007
Several years ago, faced with growing food shortages, the government of Burma — now Myanmar — ordered farmers throughout the country to start growing rice, whatever type of land they owned. But rice proved to be totally unsuitable for many of the regions in the country, with the result that many farmers were [...]

By zephyr1 | Also posted in ecological problems, economic | Comments (0)

Research ‘must be expanded’ to address food prices

December 6, 2007 – 2:10 am

A Malawian maize farmer
Jia Hepeng
4 December 2007
Source: SciDev.Net
[BEIJING] International agricultural research must be accelerated to find solutions for the world’s poor amid rising food prices, say food research experts.
Joachim von Braun, director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), made the call today (4 December) at the launch of IFPRI’s biannual report in [...]

By zephyr1 | Also posted in agriculture, climate change, sustainability | Comments (0)

India hops on board the “jatropha express”

October 26, 2007 – 4:11 am

October  2007 
Source: SciDev.net
Jatropha is an attractive source of biofuel because its drought-tolerance and ability to thrive on barren land doesnt compromise food security.
The scrub weed has been mooted as a candidate for greening barren land, providing self-sufficient energy for rural communities and an income for farmers — all while combating climate change — since the [...]

By zephyr1 | Also posted in jatropha curcas | Comments (0)

The Environmental Toll and the Promise of Biofuels.

September 20, 2007 – 10:30 am

Climate Crisis Coalition
The Environmental Toll and the Promise of Biofuels
By Joel K. Bourne, Jr., The National Geographic Magazine, October, 2007 issue
“Producing fuel from corn and other crops could be good for the planet — if only the process didn’t take a significant environmental toll. New breakthroughs could make a difference… Some studies of the energy [...]

By zephyr1 | Also posted in fossil fuels, green fuels | Comments (0)

Concerns Mounting over Ethanol Subsidies in Current Draft of 2007 Farm Bill,

July 20, 2007 – 1:36 am

From: Climate Crisis Coalition
Concerns Mounting over Ethanol Subsidies in Current Draft of 2007 Farm Bill
Press Release, Food & Water Watch, July 18, 2007
“The future of biofuels is not in corn, says a new report released today by Food & Water Watch, the Network for New Energy Choices, and the Vermont Law School Energy Institute. The [...]

By zephyr1 | Also posted in agribusiness | Comments (0)