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 …
Recent years have witnessed a rapid and accelerating expansion of bioethanol and biodiesel production. This expansion is driven by government targets for biofuel substitution in energy budgets for transport, driven in turn by concerns about high oil prices, prospects for rural development, export opportunities and means to mitigate climate change. …
This report examines the history and status of the biofuel industry in Malaysia, focusing on government support policies. It forms part of a multi-country effort by the Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) to characterize and quantify (to the extent possible)government subsidies and other support for biofuel production, distribution and consumption, including …
The State of Food and Agriculture 2008 explores the implications of the rapid recent growth in production of biofuels based on agricultural commodities. The boom in liquid biofuels has been largely induced by policies in developed countries, based on their expected positive contributions to climate-change mitigation, energy security and agricultural …
The Power and Energy Ministry will conduct a workshop, at the Heritance, Kandalama, on bio fuels to impart training on the production of bio fuels. Power and Energy Ministry sources said that the objective of organizing the training program on the production of bio fuels was to impart training to …
Vibha Sharma In the endevour to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and cut carbon emissions to achieve a clean environment, humble algae appears to be taking a lead over the more-talked-about biodiesel source jatropha. Experts say that algae farming in less than 1 per cent of India's total land can …
John F Wasik / Mumbai August 26, 2008, 3:48 IST My neighbour was palpably proud of himself when he mentioned at a backyard barbeque he had bought a specialised fund that invested in a solar-energy company. When he asked me what I thought of his well-intentioned investment, though, I had …
Q&A;: Philip G New, British Petroleum president (global biofuels) Sudheer Pal Singh / New Delhi August 25, 2008, 0:51 IST At a time when energy experts around the world are debating the "food versus fuel' debate, British Petroleum President (global biofuels) Philip G New tells Sudheer Pal Singh that the …
More than 120 scientists, engineers, analysts and economists from 30 countries were hunkered down here for the 40th annual conference on "planetary emergencies.' The term was coined by Dr. Antonino Zichichi, a native son and a theoretical physicist who has made Erice a hub for experts to discuss persistent, and …
Researchers have found a new, efficient catalyst to convert ethanol and other biofuels into hydrogen - a discovery that could help make the use of hydrogen-powered cars more practical in the future. The catalyst - which was presented this week at the American Chemical Society meeting in Philadelphia -makes hydrogen …
Many practical issues in hydrogen use as fuel have been addressed There are many practical issues that need to be resolved before we can use hydrogen as fuel
NEW DELHI Algae, one of the commonly found fresh water plants could be the simple "environment friendly' answer to the fuel shortage in the country. Biotechnology pioneer Biocon Limited chairman and managing director Kiran Mazumdar Shaw on Tuesday called for a comprehensive policy on research and production of bio fuels …
The national policy on biofuels that is expected to be announced soon has the potential to change India's fortunes either way.The government should be cautious about the land-use while allotting wasteland to companies interested in the cultivation of biofuel crops, says Sushmi Dey AT A TIME WHEN THE world is …
AWARENESS: Students taking out a rally in Madurai on Wednesday. MADURAI: Think of a life sans electricity bill. Think of a world without greenhouse gases. "It is no utopia. Come, we will tell you the measures to be adopted to pass on a wealthy and prosperous earth to the next …
Judith Lewis IT seemed, at the time, like such a good thing for the planet: In the winter of 2005, I turned in my red, gashungry Jeep Wrangler for a near-new, diesel-burning Volkswagen Beetle. Inspired by a number of pioneering friends, I would fill my little green slug bug with …
Rising food prices and shortages have joined the energy and climate crisis, economic recession, and the war in Iraq, as headline news. While consumers struggle to pay their bills and put food on the table, Monsanto, Cargill, and Archer Daniels Midland rake in billions from taxpayer-subsidized biofuels. Monopolizing markets, polluting …
The current food crisis has several causes-rising demand for food and feed, biofuels, high oil prices, climate change, stagnant agricultural productivity growth-but there is increasing evidence that the crisis is being made worse by the malfunctioning of world grain markets. Given the thinness of major markets for cereals, the restrictions …
The limited availability of fossil fuel sources, worldwide rising energy demands and anticipated climate changes attributed to an increase of greenhouse gasses are important driving forces for finding alternative energy sources. One approach to meeting the increasing energy demands and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is by large-scale substitution of …
One reason for the increase in world food prices is that of food consumption, especially in developing countries. Another is the demand for cereals and food crops to produce biofuels. Which is the more dominant factor that can explain this surge?
