Food price increases drive shift in biofuel sources
AUG 09, 2012
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.026240
BBC : Severe droughts in the US and Russia and the growth in the use of corn for biofuels have led to significant price increases for basic foods. According to an Oxfam report, 40% of the US corn crop is used for fuels; in addition, the US Renewable Fuel Standard mandates that 15 billion gallons of domestic corn ethanol be produced by 2022. Lars Hansen of Novozymes in Denmark says that fuel makers’ demand for corn can be met by using the nonfood portions of the crops. Novozymes and several other companies have begun establishing factories that can process crop residue to produce biofuels and alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. Hansen believes that 20% of Europe’s agricultural residue, converted to biofuels, could meet half of Europe’s gasoline demand.
© 2012 American Institute of Physics
