MERCHANDISER
INCREASES IN in world agriculture prices caused by the global boom in
– a vast landscape of biologically rich forests,
biofuels could benefit many of the world’s rural poor, according to a new
brush and pasture – is coming under pressure as
report from the Worldwatch Institute. This is one conclusion of a land-
sugar cane cultivation expands.
mark new 450-page book, Biofuels for Transport: Global Potential and
“It is critical to the stability of the climate that
Implications for Energy and Agriculture, published by Earthscan.
we prevent biofuels from expanding at the
“Decades of declining agricultural prices have been reversed thanks to
expense of rainforests and other valuable ecosys-
the growing use of biofuels,” says Christopher Flavin, President of the
tems,” says Suzanne Hunt, who directed the team
Institute. “Farmers in some of the poorest nations have been decimated
of 15 researchers from four countries. “Energy
by US and European subsidies to crops such as corn, cotton, and sugar.
crops should instead be established on the mil-
Today’s higher prices may allow them to sell their crops at a decent price,
lions of hectares of degraded land that can be
but major agriculture reforms and infrastructure development will be
found around the world.
needed to ensure that the increased benefits go to the world’s 800 mil-
“Current biofuels production methods place a
lion under-nourished people, most of whom live in rural areas.”
heavy burden on land and water resources, due in
part to the fossil fuel and chemical-intensive corn
Biofuels for Transport
that is used to produce over half the world’s
ethanol,” says Hunt. “Farming practices need to
be re-examined if agriculture is to provide energy
Biofuels for Transport assesses the range of sustainability issues the bio-
as well as food for a rapidly growing global popu-
fuels industry will be presented with in the years ahead, ranging from
lation that is hungry for both.”
implications for the global climate and water resources to biological diver-
The book concludes that the long-term potential
sity and the world’s poor. The book finds that rising food prices are a
of biofuels is in the use of non-food feedstock,
hardship for some urban poor, who will need increased assistance from
including agricultural and forestry wastes, as well
the World Food Programme and other relief efforts. However, it notes that
as fast-growing, cellulose-rich energy crops such
the central cause of food scarcity is poverty, and seeking food security by
as perennial grasses and trees.
driving agricultural prices ever lower will hurt more people than it helps.
“The question is not whether biofuels will play a
Growth in biofuels production may have unexpected economic benefits,
major part in the global transportation fuel mar-
according to the experts who contributed to the report. Of the 47 poorest
ket, but when and at what price,” says Flavin.
countries, 38 are net importers of oil and 25 import all of their oil; for
The book recommends policies that protect nat-
these nations, the tripling in oil prices has been an economic disaster. But
ural resources and support a speedy transition to
nations that develop domestic biofuels industries will be able to purchase
improved biofuels technologies.
fuel from their own farmers rather than relying on imported oil.
“Biofuels alone will not solve the world’s trans-
World biofuels production rose 28% to 44 billion litres in 2006; fuel
portation related energy problems. Development
ethanol was up 22% and biodiesel rose 80%. Although biofuels comprise
of these fuels must occur within the context of a
less than 1% of the global liquid fuel supply, the surge in 2006 produc-
transition to a more efficient, less polluting and
tion met 17% of the increase in supply of all liquid fuels worldwide last
more diversified global transport sector. They
year. This rapid growth is having unintended effects. Large-scale biofuels
must be part of a portfolio of options that
production can threaten biodiversity, as seen recently with palm oil plan-
includes dramatic improvements in vehicle fuel
tations in Indonesia that are encroaching on forests and edging out the
economy, investment in public transportation,
endangered orangutan population, worrying European consumers who
and better urban planning.”
have begun importing palm oil from Southeast Asia. In Brazil, the Cerrado
www.earthscan.com
1. Asian Energy Company of the Year
2. Excellence in Energy Trading & Risk Management
3. Excellence in Energy Broking
4. Excellence in Environmental Markets
The inaugural Energy Business Awards, Asia (EBAA) A Two Stage Process
will be presented during the 23
rd
APPEC in Singapore on The Energy Business Awards is a two stage process,
11
th
September 2007. comprising NOMINATIONS followed by VOTING on a
These are the first regional awards to be conferred by shortlist of five nominees in each award category.
Energy Business (an affiliate of Commodities Now To be included, or to vote, in this year’s awards visit:
magazine), and they recognise the strong influence and
contribution being made by the Asian market to the
www.energy-business.com
global energy sector. Asia is not only the world’s fastest
Nominations are now open for the global Energy
growing energy market, but is also playing a significant
Business Awards which comprise 10 categories
role in the fast growing carbon market through the
throughout the energy business complex. Voting in
development of CDM projects.
these awards opens on September 20
th
.
18 SEPTEMBER 2007 COMMODITIES NOW
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96