Abstract
The expansion of biofuels has increased the utilization of grains, oilseed by-products, and sugar. Coincidentally, prices of agricultural commodities have substantially increased. Changes in land use driven by high prices are pressuring the expansion of agriculture into environmentally sensitive areas. Such expansion is leading some to question the sustainability of biofuels as a desirable source of energy. However, the increase utilization of agricultural commodities for biofuels can not completely explain the higher prices, indicating that there are other structural forces in agriculture, besides biofuels production, that need to be included in the debate. Land use, crop mix, crop production methods, and changes in food consumption patterns, must also be part of the biofuels debate. This presentation situates biofuels within the context of what is happening in agriculture and discusses avenues to enhance the sustainability of agriculture and biofuels.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| State | Published - 1 Dec 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | ACS National Meeting Book of Abstracts - Duration: 1 Dec 2008 → … |
Conference
| Conference | ACS National Meeting Book of Abstracts |
|---|---|
| Period | 1/12/08 → … |
