This briefing paper reviews evidence of the impacts of the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) on food prices, with a focus on corn and soy, and presents new analysis on the impact of the RFS on U.S. livestock farmers. Studies examining the relationship between food prices and biofuel demand conclude …
Smog digest is a news service on vehicular pollution based on news clippings selected from leading Indian newspapers and newsmagazine. It also highlights the key developments from South Asian countries. The months witnessed lots of action and developments on the vehicular pollution front in India.
A Spanish resort town with sprawling golf courses and tree-lined beaches has added another green site to its attractions: the world's first plant to convert sewage into clean energy. The facility in Chiclana de la Frontera on the southwest tip of Spain uses wastewater and sunlight to produce algae-based biofuel …
Need for producing ethanol blended petro-fuels stressed A joint project of India and the U.S., the review meeting of which was held in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, will deliver a working model for production of bio-fuels with minimal environmental impact and overall sustainability, besides other advantages. According to a release, …
JOWAI: Minister for Forest and Environment also in charge of Community and Rural Development, Prestone Tynsong launched the Bio-fuel Project in Rymbai village, East Jaintia Hills District, on Thursday. The bio-fuel project is the first of its kind in the state and the first bio-fuel project taken up by the …
Global agricultural production is expected to grow 1.5% a year on average over the coming decade, compared with annual growth of 2.1% between 2003 and 2012, according to a new report published by the OECD and FAO. Limited expansion of agricultural land, rising production costs, growing resource constraints and increasing …
Washington: Researchers are manufacturing genetically modified fungi to produce significantly cheaper biofuel. Biofuel is often obtained from starchy plants — but this places fuel production in competition with food production. At the Vienna University of Technology, genetically modified mold fungi are created, which have the ability to break down long …
In 2012, the G8 launched a New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, an alliance of G8 countries, developing country governments and private companies. The G8 will return to the subject during the UK’s Presidency in 2013. As well as hosting the G8 summit on 17-18 June, on 8 June …
Road transport accounts for around a quarter of final energy consumption, and renewable energy technologies and fuels can help countries meet their policy goals for secure, reliable and affordable energy and reduced price volatility. They can also promote social and economic development. However, governments will find it difficult, if not …
For 62 years, the BP Statistical Review of World Energy has provided high-quality objective and globally consistent data on world energy markets. The BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2013 - the 62nd annual report - reveals that 2012 had the largest single-year increase in US oil production ever recorded, …
Using an empirical model, this study provides some insights into the functioning of the oilseed-biodiesel-diesel market complex in a large country that determines the biodiesel price, reflecting market equilibrium changes resulting from volatility in the crude oil price. Oilseed crushing produces joint products—oil and meal—and this weakens the link between …
In recent years, global trade in biofuels has grown dramatically, albeit against a background of highly distorted markets for agricultural goods and for energy, and in a context of weak global governance for environmental public goods. While the development of the biofuels sector has helped generate new economic opportunities, it …
The rapid expansion of renewable technologies is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise bleak assessment of global progress towards low-carbon energy, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in an annual report to the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM). The report, "Tracking Clean Energy Progress", introduces the Energy Sector …
Recent reports from China and the USA indicate the production of staple foods including rice, wheat and soya are likely to be hit in the coming decades due to increasing incidences of extreme weather. Experts warn that as the world's population and temperatures rise, so added stress will be placed …
The need for achieving food security is felt significantly in the recent years due to enormous pressure from the ever increasing population in India. Owing to the change in preferences in crop production techniques over a period of time, several new challenges draw attention to food security. This article discusses …
Perennial biomass from grasslands managed for conservation of soil and biodiversity can be harvested for bioenergy. Until now, the quantity and quality of harvestable biomass from conservation grasslands in Minnesota, USA, was not known, and the factors that affect bioenergy potential from these systems have not been identified. We measured …
In a first, the state government has decided to come up with its own science and technology policy. The policy is aimed at giving a push to the socio-economic development of Uttar Pradesh. It will also conduct a study on the possibility of production of bio-fuel in the state. This …
Unable to cope fully with steadily climbing world oil prices since mid-2009, many of the 65 countries reviewed in this paper have progressed slowly or even reversed course in reforming pricing of petroleum products. End-user prices in July 2012 varied by two orders of magnitude across the countries. More than …
This report evaluates the principal costs and benefits of the European Union’s biofuels industry, based on an assessment of best available information. Depending on the availability of data, some costs and benefits are quantified, while others have not been due to a lack of systematic or disaggregated information. In reality, …
The Obama administration will propose on Friday long-awaited rules to slash smog-forming emissions from gasoline that have been linked to lung and heart ailments, health groups and an environmental regulator source said on Thursday. The Environmental Protection Agency will propose the so-called Tier 3 rules that will require refiners to …
Liberia's largest palm oil company, Golden Veroleum, needs to review its social and environmental policies after its workers damaged graves, cleared existing crops and polluted creeks, according to an independent study it commissioned. The findings from The Forest Trust (TFT), a non-profit environmental consultancy, follow complaints from activists that the …
