The document discusses Brazil's biofuels industry and related environmental concerns. It notes that Brazil has significantly reduced deforestation rates in the Amazon while expanding sugarcane ethanol production. Some critics argue that increased biofuels production could lead to environmental destruction, but supporters note Brazil has doubled ethanol output without damaging food production or forests by using degraded pasturelands. Debate continues around the industry's sustainability and impacts.
The document discusses Brazil's history with biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. It notes that Brazil has developed successful initiatives in renewable energy for over 75 years. The production of ethanol from sugarcane in Brazil is highlighted as a global model due to its low production costs and ability to be economically viable without subsidies. Brazil's ethanol industry is described in detail, noting its origins in the 1930s and key drivers for its expansion, such as high oil prices in the 1970s. The development of biodiesel in Brazil is also summarized.
The document is a whitepaper on the global biofuel market that provides an overview and analysis. It discusses key topics like:
- Types of biofuels including conventional, second, third, and fourth generation biofuels produced from sources like food/non-food crops and algae.
- Advantages and disadvantages of biofuels including costs, land use, and output.
- Regional production data showing Asia Pacific as the fastest growing region led by China and Indonesia.
- Factors influencing the recent decline in global production led by a drop in US production due to drought, fuel demand decreases, and policy shifts.
- Country-level data on ethanol and biodiesel production globally.
-
- Over 2.5 billion people in developing countries rely primarily on biomass like fuelwood and dung for cooking, accounting for over 90% of household energy in many countries.
- Continued population growth may increase the number relying on biomass to over 2.7 billion by 2030 without policy changes to encourage cleaner alternatives.
- Unsustainable harvesting of biomass and inefficient cooking technologies contribute to over 1 million premature deaths annually from indoor air pollution, as well as environmental damage and lost time collecting fuel.
The document discusses the indirect land use change (ILUC) problem caused by biofuel production and policies to address it. It proposes limiting the contribution of biofuels from food crops to 5% and including science-based ILUC factors. Existing investments in biofuels could be grandfathered in while phasing out high-ILUC biofuels after 2017. This would balance environmental effectiveness with fair treatment of past investments. Meeting renewable energy targets would require reducing energy demand, using renewable electricity in transport, and producing biofuels only from wastes and residues.
This document summarizes the current state of corn ethanol subsidies in the United States. It discusses how corn production and ethanol refining have increased in recent years due to subsidies. However, the energy balance of corn ethanol is controversial and subsidies are driving up global food prices. While corn ethanol pleases Midwest farmers, organizations argue the subsidies should be eliminated. The document concludes that corn ethanol will not satisfy domestic fuel demands and is having significant global impacts.
This document discusses the challenges, risks, and opportunities for rural poor people from the expansion of biofuel production. It examines issues related to food versus fuel competition, impacts on climate change and the environment, and land use and tenure security. Specifically, it explores how increased biofuel demand could impact food prices and food security, evaluates the carbon savings of different biofuels and the effects of agricultural expansion, and considers the risks of weak land tenure systems for small farmers. The document aims to provide a balanced perspective, noting both potential negative consequences as well as opportunities for rural growth, employment, and energy access if biofuel development is well-managed.
The ppt covers the current use of corn for ethanol, the Energy Independence & Security Act and its impact on corn, future prospects for corn starch based ethanol, how fast cellulosic ethanol will develop,which feedstocks will be utilized to produce cellulosic ethanol and risks to biofuels growth.
Untapped Opportunities In Green Chemistry MarketLD Investments
As the world de-decarbonizes in response to climate change, the global chemical industry which relies heavily on fossil fuels (specifically petrochemicals) is poised for disruption as well, with green chemicals (which produces chemicals from non fossil fuel-based sources such as plants) set to benefit, Sub sectors within the green chemistry market with promising potential include bio-plastics and bio-fertilizers.
The document discusses Brazil's history with biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. It notes that Brazil has developed successful initiatives in renewable energy for over 75 years. The production of ethanol from sugarcane in Brazil is highlighted as a global model due to its low production costs and ability to be economically viable without subsidies. Brazil's ethanol industry is described in detail, noting its origins in the 1930s and key drivers for its expansion, such as high oil prices in the 1970s. The development of biodiesel in Brazil is also summarized.
The document is a whitepaper on the global biofuel market that provides an overview and analysis. It discusses key topics like:
- Types of biofuels including conventional, second, third, and fourth generation biofuels produced from sources like food/non-food crops and algae.
- Advantages and disadvantages of biofuels including costs, land use, and output.
- Regional production data showing Asia Pacific as the fastest growing region led by China and Indonesia.
- Factors influencing the recent decline in global production led by a drop in US production due to drought, fuel demand decreases, and policy shifts.
- Country-level data on ethanol and biodiesel production globally.
-
- Over 2.5 billion people in developing countries rely primarily on biomass like fuelwood and dung for cooking, accounting for over 90% of household energy in many countries.
- Continued population growth may increase the number relying on biomass to over 2.7 billion by 2030 without policy changes to encourage cleaner alternatives.
- Unsustainable harvesting of biomass and inefficient cooking technologies contribute to over 1 million premature deaths annually from indoor air pollution, as well as environmental damage and lost time collecting fuel.
The document discusses the indirect land use change (ILUC) problem caused by biofuel production and policies to address it. It proposes limiting the contribution of biofuels from food crops to 5% and including science-based ILUC factors. Existing investments in biofuels could be grandfathered in while phasing out high-ILUC biofuels after 2017. This would balance environmental effectiveness with fair treatment of past investments. Meeting renewable energy targets would require reducing energy demand, using renewable electricity in transport, and producing biofuels only from wastes and residues.
This document summarizes the current state of corn ethanol subsidies in the United States. It discusses how corn production and ethanol refining have increased in recent years due to subsidies. However, the energy balance of corn ethanol is controversial and subsidies are driving up global food prices. While corn ethanol pleases Midwest farmers, organizations argue the subsidies should be eliminated. The document concludes that corn ethanol will not satisfy domestic fuel demands and is having significant global impacts.
This document discusses the challenges, risks, and opportunities for rural poor people from the expansion of biofuel production. It examines issues related to food versus fuel competition, impacts on climate change and the environment, and land use and tenure security. Specifically, it explores how increased biofuel demand could impact food prices and food security, evaluates the carbon savings of different biofuels and the effects of agricultural expansion, and considers the risks of weak land tenure systems for small farmers. The document aims to provide a balanced perspective, noting both potential negative consequences as well as opportunities for rural growth, employment, and energy access if biofuel development is well-managed.
The ppt covers the current use of corn for ethanol, the Energy Independence & Security Act and its impact on corn, future prospects for corn starch based ethanol, how fast cellulosic ethanol will develop,which feedstocks will be utilized to produce cellulosic ethanol and risks to biofuels growth.
Untapped Opportunities In Green Chemistry MarketLD Investments
As the world de-decarbonizes in response to climate change, the global chemical industry which relies heavily on fossil fuels (specifically petrochemicals) is poised for disruption as well, with green chemicals (which produces chemicals from non fossil fuel-based sources such as plants) set to benefit, Sub sectors within the green chemistry market with promising potential include bio-plastics and bio-fertilizers.
International Journal of Research in Engineering and Science is an open access peer-reviewed international forum for scientists involved in research to publish quality and refereed papers. Papers reporting original research or experimentally proved review work are welcome. Papers for publication are selected through peer review to ensure originality, relevance, and readability.
The document provides a summary of publications released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) during the week of 4-10 June. It lists several reports on topics including food prices, locust outbreaks, cereal supply and demand, and sustainable agriculture. It also lists publications addressing issues like deforestation in Colombia, fisheries management, and safety at sea. The document provides titles, dates, and brief descriptions of the publications.
Feeding and Fueling the World to 2030 and Beyond: Land Use Change from a Food...Siwa Msangi
This document summarizes key points about meeting future global food needs from a food security perspective. It discusses increasing food demand driven by population and income growth, and the tradeoffs between intensifying agriculture through higher yields versus expanding crop area. Maintaining agricultural productivity growth will be important to meet needs while limiting land use change. Country case studies show linkages between biofuels production, economic growth, and poverty. Policy needs to consider food security impacts at global, national and local levels.
This document discusses the implications of biofuel policies in the US, Brazil, and India on fossil fuel consumption, food crop production, and food prices. It finds that while biofuel mandates can increase domestic welfare by benefiting agricultural producers and possibly fuel consumers, they often lead to conflicts between energy security and food security by raising global food prices. Policies should differentiate biofuels and incentivize second-generation biofuels from non-food sources to minimize impacts on food production. The expansion of biofuels also requires infrastructure to support higher ethanol blends in vehicles.
Environmental performance review of Colombia 2014 - HighlightsOECD Environment
This is the first OECD review of Colombia's environmental performance. It aims to provide Colombian policy makers with a wide-ranging assessment of environmental conditions and policies: green growt, biodiversity, mining, water and sanitation...
More information on http://www.oecd.org/env/country-reviews/colombia2014.htm
Biodiesel partnership proposal in brazilminasinvest
The document discusses the goal of creating a network of organizations in Brazil's public and private sectors to organize the biodiesel production chain. This network, called BioVale Hub, would make turn-key biodiesel projects available and promote sustainable development. It would link stakeholders in Brazil and abroad to transfer knowledge and technology. BioVale Hub aims to upgrade domestic enterprises and facilitate access to finance and markets. The document cites growing global demand for alternative fuels and the potential for biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel to support rural economies and alleviate poverty in regions of Brazil.
The document discusses projections for U.S. and global agricultural commodity markets in 2012-2013. Key points include:
- U.S. corn prices are high while soy prices are expected to decline more than corn. Corn acreage and yields in the U.S. are expected to increase after two years of below trend yields.
- Global corn and wheat production is expanding to meet demand, but record world wheat stocks will keep pressure on wheat prices. Uncertainty around China's import demand and South American crop conditions will impact markets.
Biodiesel Partnership Proposal In Brazilminasinvest
The document discusses Brazil's potential to be a hub for skills in the biodiesel production chain by bringing together public and private sector organizations to establish turn-key biodiesel projects from raw materials to finished fuel. This would promote sustainable development and poverty alleviation by creating new economic opportunities and making better use of Brazil's biomass energy potential.
The document outlines Emily Shaules' workshop on the connection between food and spirituality. It includes:
1) Shaules' personal transformation journey with nutrition from unhappiness at age 20 to finding raw foods at age 31.
2) Basics of raw food diets, including that raw foods retain 100% of nutrients and enzymes.
3) The connection between thoughts, emotions and the food we eat, and how lighter foods allow for faster spiritual growth.
4) Tips for successfully changing one's diet, like taking it one step at a time and finding support.
The document lists various artists and some of their works, including Raphael, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Goya, Mondrian, Schiele, and Matisse. It provides titles and dates for sketches, paintings, etchings and lithographs focused on figures, nudes, landscapes and compositions created between 1500 and 1941.
This document contains images and descriptions of various natural objects including dried fruits and vegetables like lemons and squash, plant parts like poppy buds and leaves, minerals and rocks, animal bones, and man-made ceramics that were used by the artist Mary Rogers Pinching for inspiration in her works focusing on forms found in nature.
The document provides instructions for accessing Australian Curriculum resources through the Scootle portal. Users should go to the CEVN portal website and select their Participant ID before logging in with their username and password. From there, they should click on the Scootle link under the Education Resources tab and choose Science from the Australian Curriculum menu to see the science strands organized by year level. Clicking on a strand will display the content description and associated resources organized by strand, content description, and elaborations.
The document provides instructions for accessing Australian Curriculum resources through the Scootle portal. Users first need to log into the CNA Portal via the CEVN website using their Participant ID and username/password. They then click on the Scootle link under the Education Resources tab to access the Scootle portal. In Scootle, users can browse Science resources by year level and strand, with content organized according to descriptions and elaborations.
The document discusses how personalization and dynamic content are becoming increasingly important on websites. It notes that 52% of marketers see content personalization as critical and 75% of consumers like it when brands personalize their content. However, personalization can create issues for search engine optimization as dynamic URLs and content are more difficult for search engines to index than static pages. The document provides tips for SEOs to help address these personalization and SEO challenges, such as using static URLs when possible and submitting accurate sitemaps.
Lightning Talk #9: How UX and Data Storytelling Can Shape Policy by Mika Aldabaux singapore
How can we take UX and Data Storytelling out of the tech context and use them to change the way government behaves?
Showcasing the truth is the highest goal of data storytelling. Because the design of a chart can affect the interpretation of data in a major way, one must wield visual tools with care and deliberation. Using quantitative facts to evoke an emotional response is best achieved with the combination of UX and data storytelling.
This document summarizes a study of CEO succession events among the largest 100 U.S. corporations between 2005-2015. The study analyzed executives who were passed over for the CEO role ("succession losers") and their subsequent careers. It found that 74% of passed over executives left their companies, with 30% eventually becoming CEOs elsewhere. However, companies led by succession losers saw average stock price declines of 13% over 3 years, compared to gains for companies whose CEO selections remained unchanged. The findings suggest that boards generally identify the most qualified CEO candidates, though differences between internal and external hires complicate comparisons.
This document summarizes trends in global production of second generation biofuels. It discusses that commercial production of cellulosic biofuels began in 2015, with 67 second generation biofuel facilities now operating worldwide, over a third at commercial scale. The US has the most commercial second generation plants. The document reviews biofuel policies and production in regions including Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Key challenges to further development include high capital costs and competition from low fossil fuel prices.
Sugarcane is a promising feedstock for bioethanol production due to its high yields, low land use requirements, and positive environmental impacts. The sugarcane industry has integrated concerns about sustainability, climate change, jobs, and costs. Genetic modification and new technologies are being used to further improve sugarcane varieties and increase ethanol yields. Countries like Brazil have demonstrated sustainable biofuel production from sugarcane, while other nations are exploring developing their own sugarcane industries.
The document is a whitepaper on the global biofuel market that provides an overview and analysis. It discusses key topics like:
- Types of biofuels including conventional, second, third, and fourth generation biofuels produced from sources like food/non-food crops and algae.
- Advantages and disadvantages of biofuels.
- Regional production levels of biofuels with Asia Pacific seeing the fastest growth in 2012. The US was the largest producer but saw declines that year.
- Ethanol and biodiesel production levels by region with the US and Europe leading respectively.
- Factors influencing declines in global biofuel production in 2012 including drought in the US, falling gasoline demand,
International Journal of Research in Engineering and Science is an open access peer-reviewed international forum for scientists involved in research to publish quality and refereed papers. Papers reporting original research or experimentally proved review work are welcome. Papers for publication are selected through peer review to ensure originality, relevance, and readability.
The document provides a summary of publications released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) during the week of 4-10 June. It lists several reports on topics including food prices, locust outbreaks, cereal supply and demand, and sustainable agriculture. It also lists publications addressing issues like deforestation in Colombia, fisheries management, and safety at sea. The document provides titles, dates, and brief descriptions of the publications.
Feeding and Fueling the World to 2030 and Beyond: Land Use Change from a Food...Siwa Msangi
This document summarizes key points about meeting future global food needs from a food security perspective. It discusses increasing food demand driven by population and income growth, and the tradeoffs between intensifying agriculture through higher yields versus expanding crop area. Maintaining agricultural productivity growth will be important to meet needs while limiting land use change. Country case studies show linkages between biofuels production, economic growth, and poverty. Policy needs to consider food security impacts at global, national and local levels.
This document discusses the implications of biofuel policies in the US, Brazil, and India on fossil fuel consumption, food crop production, and food prices. It finds that while biofuel mandates can increase domestic welfare by benefiting agricultural producers and possibly fuel consumers, they often lead to conflicts between energy security and food security by raising global food prices. Policies should differentiate biofuels and incentivize second-generation biofuels from non-food sources to minimize impacts on food production. The expansion of biofuels also requires infrastructure to support higher ethanol blends in vehicles.
Environmental performance review of Colombia 2014 - HighlightsOECD Environment
This is the first OECD review of Colombia's environmental performance. It aims to provide Colombian policy makers with a wide-ranging assessment of environmental conditions and policies: green growt, biodiversity, mining, water and sanitation...
More information on http://www.oecd.org/env/country-reviews/colombia2014.htm
Biodiesel partnership proposal in brazilminasinvest
The document discusses the goal of creating a network of organizations in Brazil's public and private sectors to organize the biodiesel production chain. This network, called BioVale Hub, would make turn-key biodiesel projects available and promote sustainable development. It would link stakeholders in Brazil and abroad to transfer knowledge and technology. BioVale Hub aims to upgrade domestic enterprises and facilitate access to finance and markets. The document cites growing global demand for alternative fuels and the potential for biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel to support rural economies and alleviate poverty in regions of Brazil.
The document discusses projections for U.S. and global agricultural commodity markets in 2012-2013. Key points include:
- U.S. corn prices are high while soy prices are expected to decline more than corn. Corn acreage and yields in the U.S. are expected to increase after two years of below trend yields.
- Global corn and wheat production is expanding to meet demand, but record world wheat stocks will keep pressure on wheat prices. Uncertainty around China's import demand and South American crop conditions will impact markets.
Biodiesel Partnership Proposal In Brazilminasinvest
The document discusses Brazil's potential to be a hub for skills in the biodiesel production chain by bringing together public and private sector organizations to establish turn-key biodiesel projects from raw materials to finished fuel. This would promote sustainable development and poverty alleviation by creating new economic opportunities and making better use of Brazil's biomass energy potential.
The document outlines Emily Shaules' workshop on the connection between food and spirituality. It includes:
1) Shaules' personal transformation journey with nutrition from unhappiness at age 20 to finding raw foods at age 31.
2) Basics of raw food diets, including that raw foods retain 100% of nutrients and enzymes.
3) The connection between thoughts, emotions and the food we eat, and how lighter foods allow for faster spiritual growth.
4) Tips for successfully changing one's diet, like taking it one step at a time and finding support.
The document lists various artists and some of their works, including Raphael, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Goya, Mondrian, Schiele, and Matisse. It provides titles and dates for sketches, paintings, etchings and lithographs focused on figures, nudes, landscapes and compositions created between 1500 and 1941.
This document contains images and descriptions of various natural objects including dried fruits and vegetables like lemons and squash, plant parts like poppy buds and leaves, minerals and rocks, animal bones, and man-made ceramics that were used by the artist Mary Rogers Pinching for inspiration in her works focusing on forms found in nature.
The document provides instructions for accessing Australian Curriculum resources through the Scootle portal. Users should go to the CEVN portal website and select their Participant ID before logging in with their username and password. From there, they should click on the Scootle link under the Education Resources tab and choose Science from the Australian Curriculum menu to see the science strands organized by year level. Clicking on a strand will display the content description and associated resources organized by strand, content description, and elaborations.
The document provides instructions for accessing Australian Curriculum resources through the Scootle portal. Users first need to log into the CNA Portal via the CEVN website using their Participant ID and username/password. They then click on the Scootle link under the Education Resources tab to access the Scootle portal. In Scootle, users can browse Science resources by year level and strand, with content organized according to descriptions and elaborations.
The document discusses how personalization and dynamic content are becoming increasingly important on websites. It notes that 52% of marketers see content personalization as critical and 75% of consumers like it when brands personalize their content. However, personalization can create issues for search engine optimization as dynamic URLs and content are more difficult for search engines to index than static pages. The document provides tips for SEOs to help address these personalization and SEO challenges, such as using static URLs when possible and submitting accurate sitemaps.
Lightning Talk #9: How UX and Data Storytelling Can Shape Policy by Mika Aldabaux singapore
How can we take UX and Data Storytelling out of the tech context and use them to change the way government behaves?
Showcasing the truth is the highest goal of data storytelling. Because the design of a chart can affect the interpretation of data in a major way, one must wield visual tools with care and deliberation. Using quantitative facts to evoke an emotional response is best achieved with the combination of UX and data storytelling.
This document summarizes a study of CEO succession events among the largest 100 U.S. corporations between 2005-2015. The study analyzed executives who were passed over for the CEO role ("succession losers") and their subsequent careers. It found that 74% of passed over executives left their companies, with 30% eventually becoming CEOs elsewhere. However, companies led by succession losers saw average stock price declines of 13% over 3 years, compared to gains for companies whose CEO selections remained unchanged. The findings suggest that boards generally identify the most qualified CEO candidates, though differences between internal and external hires complicate comparisons.
This document summarizes trends in global production of second generation biofuels. It discusses that commercial production of cellulosic biofuels began in 2015, with 67 second generation biofuel facilities now operating worldwide, over a third at commercial scale. The US has the most commercial second generation plants. The document reviews biofuel policies and production in regions including Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Key challenges to further development include high capital costs and competition from low fossil fuel prices.
Sugarcane is a promising feedstock for bioethanol production due to its high yields, low land use requirements, and positive environmental impacts. The sugarcane industry has integrated concerns about sustainability, climate change, jobs, and costs. Genetic modification and new technologies are being used to further improve sugarcane varieties and increase ethanol yields. Countries like Brazil have demonstrated sustainable biofuel production from sugarcane, while other nations are exploring developing their own sugarcane industries.
The document is a whitepaper on the global biofuel market that provides an overview and analysis. It discusses key topics like:
- Types of biofuels including conventional, second, third, and fourth generation biofuels produced from sources like food/non-food crops and algae.
- Advantages and disadvantages of biofuels.
- Regional production levels of biofuels with Asia Pacific seeing the fastest growth in 2012. The US was the largest producer but saw declines that year.
- Ethanol and biodiesel production levels by region with the US and Europe leading respectively.
- Factors influencing declines in global biofuel production in 2012 including drought in the US, falling gasoline demand,
The document discusses the economics and sustainability of sugarcane ethanol production. It notes that sugarcane is well-suited to tropical growing conditions and that Brazil is a world leader in sugarcane ethanol production. Advances in biotechnology and genetic engineering aim to further improve sugarcane varieties and increase ethanol yields. The document also examines the potential for sugarcane ethanol in other countries and regions like Asia and Africa.
The document discusses the economics of producing energy crops for fuel conversion. It finds that while the U.S. has significant agricultural resources that could be used to produce biofuels, the costs of growing and converting most feedstocks into biofuels is currently higher than for conventional fuels. However, government policies aim to advance technologies that lower biofuel production costs and account for environmental externalities not reflected in fossil fuel prices. As technologies progress, biofuels are expected to become more competitive.
Biodiesel partnership proposal in brazilRede Jatropha
This document summarizes the goals and vision of an organization in Brazil called Rede JatrophaNet that aims to organize the biodiesel production chain in Brazil. The organization seeks to set up partnerships between private and public sector organizations to provide turn-key biodiesel production projects and promote sustainable development. The document outlines the various steps in biodiesel production and notes the economic, social, and environmental benefits of biodiesel for Brazil including increased farm incomes, rural job creation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and decreased dependence on oil imports.
BUSINESS DAYRise in Ethanol Raises Concerns AboutCorn as.docxclairbycraft
The document discusses concerns about rising global demand for corn outstripping supply as more corn is used for ethanol production in the United States. A new study found that ethanol plants could use up to half of the US corn crop in 2008, more than previous estimates. This increased diversion of corn to fuel would affect global food prices. While the ethanol industry disputes the study's findings, experts warn that high dependence on corn-based ethanol could increase prices for meat, poultry and dairy. Increased planting may not keep up with rising demand from ethanol and exports.
- Fuel ethanol production costs are currently higher than gasoline in the EU, but the EU's decision to promote ethanol is motivated by strategic concerns around reducing dependency on oil imports, addressing global warming, and stimulating economic growth.
- While production costs in Brazil and the US are lower due to many years of government support and large economies of scale, bringing EU production costs down through implementing the biofuels directive, investing in technology, and developing second-generation ethanol could make EU costs more competitive over time.
- Comparing fuel ethanol and gasoline solely on production costs provides an incomplete picture, as ethanol is becoming a strategic product and its price will depend on a variety of global supply and demand factors beyond simple production costs.
Developments in bio refinery and its impact on pulp and paper industryArivalagan Arumugam
The document discusses developments in bio-refineries and their impact on the pulp and paper industry. It outlines how environmental and energy security concerns are driving the use of renewable resources for fuel production. Technological advances now allow biomass to be converted into biofuels, power, and chemicals through integrated biorefining processes. Global biofuel production is over 100 billion liters annually, with various feedstocks and conversion technologies used. Commercial biorefineries have been established in many countries. This impacts pulp and paper industries that also use some biomass feedstocks.
This document discusses the integration of second-generation bioenergy crops into farming systems as a way to avoid competition for land between food and fuel production. It provides an example from New Zealand where Miscanthus grass is grown as shelterbelts on dairy farms. The shelterbelts provide multiple ecosystem services, including shelter for livestock, a harvestable crop, and habitat for beneficial insects. Farms with Miscanthus shelterbelts showed increased pasture yields from reduced evapotranspiration in sheltered areas and positive impacts on soil and insects. By producing bioenergy as a co-product of dairy farming, the need to replace food-productive land is reduced. The ecosystem services provided by integrated bioenergy crops can improve farming sustainability and
The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) represents 60% of Brazil's sugarcane production. It works to promote sustainable practices in the sugarcane industry and low-carbon sugarcane energy solutions like ethanol as an alternative to fossil fuels. UNICA partners with Apex-Brasil, a Brazilian government agency, to promote the benefits of Brazilian sugarcane ethanol globally. The document then provides information on how sugarcane is used in Brazil to produce sugar, ethanol, electricity, and other renewable products in a sustainable way.
Brazil has significant potential for renewable energy from solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass. Due to economic growth increasing energy demand, energy security concerns from oil imports, and sustainability goals, Brazil implemented several reforms transitioning to renewable energy. Key reforms included opening the energy market to private investment, long-term contracting requirements, and emissions reduction targets. Notable increases have occurred in hydropower, biofuels like ethanol, and more recently non-hydro renewables and natural gas. Challenges remain around ensuring supply reliability and affordability while further developing renewable potential and reducing deforestation impacts.
Nnfcc market review biofuels issue twentyfive april 2014NNFCC
This document provides a summary of the April 2014 issue of the NNFCC Market Review, which summarizes the latest news from across the biofuels market. The document discusses recent policy developments in the EU regarding state aid for renewable energy projects. It also summarizes news about the bioethanol, biomethane, advanced biofuels, and events sections of the market review.
The document discusses biofuels as an alternative to fossil fuels. It outlines two main types of biofuels - bioethanol and biodiesel. Bioethanol is produced from plant materials like sugarcane, corn, and grains through fermentation. Biodiesel is produced from oilseeds like Jatropha seeds which contain 27-40% oil. The document also discusses various countries' approaches to biofuel production, including Brazil which produces bioethanol from sugarcane, and India which blends ethanol produced from sugarcane byproducts into gasoline. While biofuels provide benefits, their large-scale production could increase competition for land and water resources.
This document summarizes an academic paper analyzing ethanol subsidies in Iowa. It discusses how Iowa has a perfect competition economic structure and how farm subsidies are important to Iowa's economy. Ethanol production has expanded significantly due to federal and state subsidies since the 1980s. While ethanol subsidies expired in 2011 without much opposition, the Renewable Fuel Standard mandate continues to guarantee high ethanol demand. The paper examines different perspectives on ethanol subsidies and their environmental impacts from various studies and interviews. While ethanol brings economic benefits to Iowa, it may come at the cost of increased water pollution, soil erosion, and impacts on biodiversity due to expansion of corn monocultures.
Brazil is one of the top three countries in terms of GDP, population, and land area. It has abundant natural resources like water, sunlight, and fertile land that make it highly productive for agriculture, especially forestry. Brazil is the largest exporter of cellulose in the world due to its low production costs and high yields of eucalyptus. A new potential region for eucalyptus and pulp production is Amapá state, which has large areas of underutilized cerrado savannah lands that are cheap, close to port infrastructure, and could support expansion of the industry.
Biovale energia partnership & prospectsRede Jatropha
BioVale Energia provides turn-key biodiesel projects and partners with stakeholders in Brazil and abroad. Its main asset is innovation and intellectual capital from skills in Brazil and other countries. The company aims to cluster capabilities to benefit partners and shareholders of spin-off companies.
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for future generations. The term was used by the Brundtland Commission which coined what has become the most often-quoted definition of sustainable development as development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
Ethanol Based Products Contribution to Brazil’s Economic Growth.docxgitagrimston
Ethanol Based Products Contribution to Brazil’s Economic Growth
METHODOLOGY
Ethanol Based Products Contribution To Brazil’s Economic Growth
Fuel is one of the main factors that contribute either positively or negatively to the economy of a country. Brazil has come up with the invention of fuel from ethanol. This research seeks to find out whether the development and implementation of ethanol based products and technologies have been a contributing factor to Brazil's rapid economic growth in the past 10 years. It also seeks to establish if it has contributed, will it continue to provide economic growth in the future?
Justification
It is obvious that the world encounters an energy crisis. Ethanol, produced mainly from sugar cane or maize, constitutes 90 percent of biofuels produced in the world (the rest is biodiesel). According to Otaviano Canuto, the head of the World Bank Brazil, ethanol pollutes 60 percent less compared to oil (Foreign Policy No.118, July/August 2007). Sustainable bioenergy: a framework for decision makers, published by the United Nations in April 2007, argues that biofuels are the only short-term alternative to replace oil in transportation which is the main source of the emission of greenhouse gases.
Brazil is one of the countries that risked replacing oil with ethanol. The awareness of renewable energies is a recent issue with few countries investing in research and development of more clean fuels. Brazil is one of the striking examples. Even though it is a third world country, it is trying hard in achieving its development through implementation of various elements in their economic development strategies. In the next 10 years, Brazil plans to triple the ethanol production area by increasing the arable land from three to nine million hectares. The Brazilian government has already signed an internal agreement with farmers and entrepreneurs for the expansion. This is because the plan does not intend to degrade the environment through the cutting down of forests, but rather make use of appropriate grassland and grow soybean crop.
The aim of this research is to understand how the recent trade of renewable fuel will be viable and profitable in less than10 years. In addition, it is meant to help understand the mechanism and ways through which Brazil can survive in this oligopoly ethanol market. Besides regional change, this research will allow us to take a broad view and understanding of the effect of ethanol energy on the automotives whose change is in favor of biofuel, which in turn is jeopardizing the traditional automotive market.
Objectives1) To determine how ethanol became an alternative fuel in Brazil.
2 To determine the relationship between investment in research and development and economic growth in Brazil.
3) To find out the contributions of ethanol production economically.
4) To determine the importance of biofuel market and Brazilian estimated contribution to automotive construction.
Problem
Sometimes t ...
Ethanol Based Products Contribution to Brazil’s Economic Growth.docx
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1. Map of sugarcane crops in Brazil.<br />Environmental concerns make energy produced from biomass a key element towards sustainable development. The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) has set the increase of biofuels’ share in the Brazilian energy matrix as one of the policy directives for the sector. <br /> <br />It is certainly much greener than its corn-based rival in America: it packs 8.2 times as much energy as is used in its production, compared with just 1.5 times for corn ethanol, according to the Woodrow Wilson Centre, a Washington think-tank<br />Biofuels in Brazil: Lean, green and not mean | The Economist. (n.d.). . Retrieved January 26, 2011, from http://www.economist.com/node/11632886<br />For developed<br />countries, biofuel is also seen as part of a strategy of<br />energy independence, i.e. decreased dependence on oil<br />from the Middle East, Russia or Venezuela (Carelli<br />2007). It is also a convenient justification for providing<br />subsidies to the farm sector, a powerful interest group<br />(Crooks & Harvey 2007). For developing countries,<br />especially Brazil, there are promises of generation of<br />employment and income, opportunities for foreign<br />investment, regional development in depressed areas,<br />new tax and foreign exchange revenues, sale of<br />technology and technical cooperation with Africa, as<br />has been widely reported recently in the press and<br />Brazil Biofuels Ethanol Annual Report 2008 - Bioenergy Articles from The Bioenergy Site. (n.d.). . Retrieved February 1, 2011, from http://www.thebioenergysite.com/articles/118/brazil-biofuels-ethanol-annual-report-2008<br />Recent assessments carried out in 2009 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)[149] and the California Air Resources Board (CARB)[150][151] included the impact of indirect land use changes (ILUC) as part of the lifecycle analysis of crop-based biofuels. Brazilian sugarcane ethanol meets both the ruled California Low-Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) and the proposed federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2), despite the additional carbon emissions associated with ILUC.[149][152][153][154] On February 3, 2010, EPA issued its final ruling regarding the RFS2 for 2010 and beyond,[99] and determined that Brazilian ethanol produced from sugarcane complies with the applicable 50% GHG reduction threshold for the advanced fuel category.[12] EPA’s modelling shows that sugarcane ethanol from Brazil reduces greenhouse gas emissions as compared to gasoline by 61%, using a 30-year payback for indirect land use change (ILUC) emissions.[13][155] By September 2010 five Brazilian sugarcane ethanol mills have been approved by the EPA to export their ethanol in the U.S. under the advanced biofuel category.[156][157]<br />Transition<br />Despite the auspicious signals that Brazil’s leadership in the biofuel industry is bringing regarding development, it is not without serious challenges. Concerns about the sustainability of biofuel technology are rising, and researchers have pointed to adverse side effects of ethanol-based fuels. With rapidly rising food prices, Brazil’s approach of using agricultural products for manufacturing biofuels is facing harsh critiques. Environmentalists have also argued that the expansion of the biofuel industry has increased the rate of deforestation, negating any environmental benefits that the ethanol-based biofuels may bring. Without finding viable solutions for these fundamental problems, it will be difficult for the biofuel industry to create long-term meaningful changes in the country’s energy and economic development. However, Brazil’s leadership at the very least seems to be pioneering alternative routes for its Latin American neighbors and even other developing regions. Even if its environmental benefits are contestable, Brazil’s biofuel industry is resulting in positive developmental shifts by providing a means of economic diversification and initiating a promising paradigm of South-South technology exchange.<br />As consumers across the world feel the pinch when filling up their tanks with expensive gasoline, in Brazil experts are worried that ethanol is becoming too cheap too quickly. Record low sugar and ethanol prices are the result of overproduction and have been fueling the debate on how this will affect future investments and growth in the country's biofuels industry.Sugar and ethanol prices have fallen around 35 percent since the beginning of the record 2007/08 cane crop and output is set to grow further with tens of new projects being implemented. For Brazil, there is only one way out: international exports. This requires the creation of a global ethanol market and an abandonment of current tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers. But governments in both the US and the EU prefer to protect their own farmers and refuse to give their consumers access to more sustainable and far cheaper fuels. Brazil now faces a catch-22: the local market is saturated, and an international market does not yet exist. Experts convened in Sertaozinho to debate the crisis.<br />Experts: Brazil victim of its own biofuels success, as ethanol price collapses. (n.d.). . Retrieved February 1, 2011, from http://news.mongabay.com/bioenergy/2007/09/experts-brazil-victim-of-its-own.html<br />ENVIRONMENT<br />The Brazilian biofuels strategy is associated with concerns over energy security and sustainability, factors that have encouraged various countries to seek alternatives to fossil fuels and adopt measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the case of Brazil, this strategy consists of a variety of actions, organized under three approaches, global, regional and bilateral.In its global approach, Brazil has advocated the adoption of international standards and technical requirements that would facilitate the establishment of a global market for such products. In order to create a coordinating mechanism among the largest producers and consumers of biofuels, the International Biofuels Forum was created in March 2007, in New York. Additionally, Brazil’s goal is to stimulate scientific studies and technological innovations that ensure both the long-term sustainability of biofuels production and ways of preventing the production of biofuels from interfering with food production.Regionally, Brazil has advocated the energy integration of South America by promoting diversification of the energy mix in the countries of the region and by providing incentives for renewable sources of energy. Also, a Mercosul Memorandum of Understanding was signed to expand cooperation in this area. By integrating the chains of production, distribution and sale of ethanol and biodiesel in the region, including applicable regulations and inspections, the aim is to promote a more effective use of the South American countries’ important competitive advantages in the biofuels field, acknowledging that the region presently has an opportunity to produce wealth and development in a sustainable manner.<br />Biofuels - Brazilian Embassy. (n.d.). . Retrieved February 1, 2011, from http://www.brasilemb.org/energy/biofuels<br />of the sugar cane producers association is keen to reject. <br />quot;
We are using 3.5 million hectares to produce sugar cane ethanol, and there are 200 million hectares of pastures in Brazil, so it is extremely small,quot;
he says. <br />quot;
We believe that we are going to double the ethanol area in the next 20 years, but it will still be only 2% of arable land.quot;
<br />In the next 10 years it offers a replacement of 10% of the gasoline (petrol) in the world, which is a large amount,quot;
he says. <br />quot;
Today, about one trillion litres of gasoline are used in the world, and 10% of that could come from renewable fuel such as ethanol from Brazil and other tropical countries. <br />This, he claims would happen quot;
without damaging food production, and without indirect effects such as damaging the Amazon forest and increasing deforestationquot;
. <br />To fully realise that potential Brazil and other developing countries will need greater access to world markets. <br />BBC NEWS | Business | Brazil defends biofuel's merits. (n.d.). . Retrieved February 1, 2011, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7528323.stm<br />In addition to labor concerns, there are serious environmental considerations surrounding the growth of the ethanol industry. Supporters of the industry, including industry leaders, government and mainstream media, argue that an increase in ethanol exports will boost economic growth and sustainable rural growth for Brazil, while reducing global warming and dependence on fossil fuels. Critics counter that the monoculture of sugarcane will result in massive environmental destruction. According to FoodFirst, an NGO based in Oakland, CA, Brazil will need to clear an additional 148 million hectares of forest to accommodate the increased export demand. Since sugarcane generates a high price per hectare, other agricultural products take second priority. Accordingly, sugarcane dominates the regions with better climatic conditions occupying lands once used for growing grain to feed grazing livestock. <br />Resistance to the rapid shift in land use is already evident. As the expanding ethanol industry threatens a loss of rural livelihood, the frequency and intensity of agrarian conflicts continues to rise. Between 2000 and 2004, the highest number of agrarian conflicts for any one year was nine; in 2005, there were nearly 60 such conflicts. Brazil has one of the largest rates of land and income inequality in the world as well as an incredibly organized agrarian reform movement. This results in a constant socioeconomic tension between wealthy land owners and poor rural agrarians. An aggravation of this tension by growth in the ethanol industry is likely to result in an increase in violent conflicts. <br />Social groups, NGOs and other interested organizations do not necessarily advocate the abandonment of the ethanol industry. Rather, these groups assert that the government must reconsider its priorities, incorporating concepts of food sovereignty into its development plan and prioritize the use of land for the production of food for Brazilians. The concept of food sovereignty includes access to nutritious foods in adequate quantities, as well as the right of the people to define their own agrarian policies, producing food for consumption before producing it for the export market. Critics argue that current trends in growth and market concentration are in direct opposition to notions of food sovereignty and agrarian reform.<br />Roberto Villar Belmonte, Brazil: In Search of Sustainable Ethanol, available at http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38675.<br />Brazil Ethanol Market, Energy Business Daily, July 13, 2007, available at http://energybusinessdaily.com/oil__gas/brazil-ethanol-market/.<br />Isabella Kenfield, Brazil's Ethanol Industry Breeds Rural Poverty, Environmental Degredation, available at http://americas.irc-online.org/am/4049/.<br />However, there are also various questions about costs<br />and risks, especially for the global South. To begin with,<br />the production and distribution of biofuels, when the<br />entire life cycle is considered, still require considerable<br />use of fossil fuels for fertilizer production, transportation<br />of inputs and labour, manufacture and operation of farm<br />machinery, processing of rawmaterial and transportation<br />tomarkets,among other energy needs (UN2007).Thus,<br />theymay offer fewif any net benefits in termsofemissions<br />of CO2, unless there are significant gains in productivity<br />in the fields and in efficiency of processing and<br />distribution. Inevitably, there are also emissions of CO2<br />from clearing of land not already farmed, as well as<br />emissions of N2O, a potent greenhouse gas, from<br />nitrogen in fertilizers (Hill et al. 2006).<br />(a) Biofuels, the Amazon and Cerrado<br />To the extent that the biofuel response to climate<br />change is limited to production and use of bio-diesel<br />from soya beans or ethanol from sugar cane or maize,<br />without due caution, it may have strong negative<br />impacts on the Amazon and other tropical biomes,<br />especially the Cerrado, interacting with climate change.<br />As seen in other pieces in this volume, climate change<br />may cause vast dieback of the Amazon forest or<br />reduction to scrub.1 On the other hand, little or no<br />attention has been given to even greater past and<br />current clearing in the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado,<br />global biodiversity hotspots that, according to various<br />climate models, would receive less water vapour from<br />the Amazon (Machado 2004; Marengo 2006). River<br />flow from the Cerrado to neighbouring biomes could<br />also be affected (Lima & Silva 2002).<br />(b) Ecosystemic effects<br />The direct and indirect negative impacts of biofuels can<br />be ecosystemic, causing impacts on biodiversity, water<br />and carbon, or social, including economic and political<br />dimensions, in various ecosystems. Scientific studies are<br />needed to verify the reports and allegations about<br />negative impacts that mushroomed in 2007,2 as summarized<br />below, and to quantify impacts of various crops<br />and production technologies in different locations.<br />Depending on the crop, location, previous land use<br />and technology, the direct ecosystemic effects of<br />expansion of soya and cane monoculture may include,<br />according to various sources cited by Rodrigues & Ortiz<br />(2006) and Honty & Gudynas (2007), among others,<br />damage to biodiversity, soils, water resources and the<br />atmosphere. Obviously, destruction of biodiversity<br />occurs when forest or savannah land or land undergoing<br />regeneration is cleared. Not so obviously,<br />biodiversity is also reduced when mixed farming<br />systems are replaced by monoculture landscapes.<br />Owing to the effects of wind and water, soil erosion<br />occurs when natural vegetation is removed, unless<br />minimum tillage or integrated crop–livestock systems<br />are used. Soil fertility is also reduced due to<br />contamination, compaction and loss of organic matter.<br />Cane production and processing consume huge<br />quantities of water, as much as 4:l per litre of ethanol<br />(Gabeira 2007). Clear fields accelerate run-off, reducing<br />infiltration of water into the soil and aquifers,<br />which may also affect water supplies in downstream<br />reservoirs during the dry season (Lima & Silva 2002).<br />Water is polluted with pesticides and nitrogen<br />and phosphorus from fertilizers (Hill et al. 2006).<br />Clearing woodland, including the eventual decomposition<br />of underground carbon in roots, generates<br />massive emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere. There<br />are also greenhouse gas emissions of N2O from<br />fertilizer use. Smoke and ashes from the widespread<br />practice of burning sugar cane fields before manual<br />cutting cause local atmospheric pollution. There is also<br />pollution due to pesticides sprayed from the air<br />(sources cited above).<br />Some greens say that the spread of sugar is deforesting the Amazon. That is not true. The vast majority of the sugar crop is grown thousands of miles away from the forest, in São Paulo state or the north-east. Some 65% of new planting of sugar cane has been on land that was previously pasture; the rest was previously used for other crops, according to Conab, a government agency.<br />Biofuels in Brazil: Lean, green and not mean | The Economist. (n.d.). . Retrieved January 26, 2011, from http://www.economist.com/node/11632886<br />“Higher prices triggered by biofuels will accelerate forest and grassland conversion [in Latin America] even if surplus croplands exist elsewhere.” Searchinger’s Science article was, of course, the salvo that touched off the fierce debate over indirect land use change (ILUC). The paper suggested that the global warming impact of ethanol is twice as bad as gasoline when these hypothetical ILUC emissions are considered. Despite the fact that Searchinger’s findings were roundly rejected and refuted by the scientific community, the paper was (and continues to be) an acerbic weapon used by biofuel opponents to perpetuate the myth that U.S. biofuels growth is somehow leading to accelerated deforestation in the Amazon.<br />Searchinger’s hypothesis, already reeling, took another body blow today when Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced that deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has fallen to its lowest rate since the government began collecting data in 1988. The announcement by Lula is based on analysis of satellite imagery by Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) that shows an estimated 2,490 square miles of forest were cleared in the most recent 12-month period. That’s down 14% from last year and less than half of 2008 levels. INPE data clearly show that Amazon deforestation rates in Brazil have been plunging for the last seven years, and the 2010 rate is less than one-quarter of the rate experienced in 2004 when the deforestation rate reached more than 10,700 square miles.<br />All of this has occurred while U.S. biofuels production has increased dramatically. Annual U.S. ethanol production stood at 3.4 billion when deforestation peaked in 2004. In 2010, the ethanol industry will produce nearly 13 billion gallons. So, Amazon deforestation has fallen 76% since 2004, while U.S. ethanol production has increased 279% in the same period.<br />If a Tree Doesn’t Fall in the Forest, Will ENGOs and Regulators Notice? | RFA: Renewable Fuels Association. (n.d.). . Retrieved February 1, 2011, from http://www.ethanolrfa.org/exchange/entry/if-a-tree-doesnt-fall-in-the-forest-will-engos-and-regulators-notice/<br />As shown, Brazilian ethanol from sugarcane is the most efficient biofuel currently under commercial production in terms of GHG emission reduction.[73]<br />A tiny sliver of rain forest is surrounded by acres of soybean fields in Brazil<br />Biofuels do slightly reduce dependence on imported oil, and the ethanol boom has created rural jobs while enriching some farmers and agribusinesses. But the basic problem with most biofuels is amazingly simple, given that researchers have ignored it until now: using land to grow fuel leads to the destruction of forests, wetlands and grasslands that store enormous amounts of carbon.<br />Backed by billions in investment capital, this alarming phenomenon is replicating itself around the world. Indonesia has bulldozed and burned so much wilderness to grow palm oil trees for biodiesel that its ranking among the world's top carbon emitters has surged from 21st to third according to a report by Wetlands International. Malaysia is converting forests into palm oil farms so rapidly that it's running out of uncultivated land. But most of the damage created by biofuels will be less direct and less obvious. In Brazil, for instance, only a tiny portion of the Amazon is being torn down to grow the sugarcane that fuels most Brazilian cars. More deforestation results from a chain reaction so vast it's subtle: U.S. farmers are selling one-fifth of their corn to ethanol production, so U.S. soybean farmers are switching to corn, so Brazilian soybean farmers are expanding into cattle pastures, so Brazilian cattlemen are displaced to the Amazon. It's the remorseless economics of commodities markets. quot;
The price of soybeans goes up,quot;
laments Sandro Menezes, a biologist with Conservation International in Brazil, quot;
and the forest comes down.quot;
<br />Deforestation accounts for 20% of all current carbon emissions. So unless the world can eliminate emissions from all other sources—cars, power plants, factories, even flatulent cows—it needs to reduce deforestation or risk an environmental catastrophe. That means limiting the expansion of agriculture, a daunting task as the world's population keeps expanding. And saving forests is probably an impossibility so long as vast expanses of cropland are used to grow modest amounts of fuel. The biofuels boom, in short, is one that could haunt the planet for generations—and it's only getting started.<br />The environmental cost of this cropland creep is now becoming apparent. One groundbreaking new study in Science concluded that when this deforestation effect is taken into account, corn ethanol and soy biodiesel produce about twice the emissions of gasoline. Sugarcane ethanol is much cleaner, and biofuels created from waste products that don't gobble up land have real potential, but even cellulosic ethanol increases overall emissions when its plant source is grown on good cropland. quot;
People don't want to believe renewable fuels could be bad,quot;
says the lead author, Tim Searchinger, a Princeton scholar and former Environmental Defense attorney. quot;
But when you realize we're tearing down rain forests that store loads of carbon to grow crops that store much less carbon, it becomes obvious.quot;
<br />Why is so much money still being poured into such a misguided enterprise? Like the scientists and environmentalists, many politicians genuinely believe biofuels can help decrease global warming. It makes intuitive sense: cars emit carbon no matter what fuel they burn, but the process of growing plants for fuel sucks some of that carbon out of the atmosphere. For years, the big question was whether those reductions from carbon sequestration outweighed the quot;
life cyclequot;
of carbon emissions from farming, converting the crops to fuel and transporting the fuel to market. Researchers eventually concluded that yes, biofuels were greener than gasoline. The improvements were only about 20% for corn ethanol because tractors, petroleum-based fertilizers and distilleries emitted lots of carbon. But the gains approached 90% for more efficient fuels, and advocates were confident that technology would progressively increase benefits.<br />There was just one flaw in the calculation: the studies all credited fuel crops for sequestering carbon, but no one checked whether the crops would ultimately replace vegetation and soils that sucked up even more carbon. It was as if the science world assumed biofuels would be grown in parking lots. The deforestation of Indonesia has shown that's not the case. It turns out that the carbon lost when wilderness is razed overwhelms the gains from cleaner-burning fuels. A study by University of Minnesota ecologist David Tilman concluded that it will take more than 400 years of biodiesel use to quot;
pay backquot;
the carbon emitted by directly clearing peat lands to grow palm oil; clearing grasslands to grow corn for ethanol has a payback period of 93 years. The result is that biofuels increase demand for crops, which boosts prices, which drives agricultural expansion, which eats forests. Searchinger's study concluded that overall, corn ethanol has a payback period of about 167 years because of the deforestation it triggers. <br />right000 Myth #1: Agro-fuels are clean and green - Because photosynthesis from fuel crops removes greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and can reduce fossil fuel consumption, we are told fuel crops are green. But, when the full life-cycle of agro-fuels is considered - from land clearing to automotive consumption - the moderate emission savings are undone by far greater emissions from deforestation, burning, peat drainage, cultivation and soil carbon losses. Every ton of palm oil produced results in 33 tons of carbon dioxide emissions -- 10 times more than petroleum. Clearing tropical forests for sugarcane ethanol emits 50 percent more greenhouse gases than the production and use of the same amount of gasoline.There are other environmental problems as well. Industrial agro-fuels require large applications of petroleum-based fertilizers, whose global use has more than doubled the biologically available nitrogen in the world, contributing heavily to the emission of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide.To produce a liter of ethanol takes three to five liters of irrigation water and produces up to 13 liters of waste water. It takes the energy equivalent of 113 liters of natural gas to treat this waste, increasing the likelihood that it will simply be released into the environment. Intensive cultivation of fuel crops also leads to high rates of erosion.<br />Biofuel Myths. (n.d.). . Retrieved February 1, 2011, from http://www.greenpeacecorps.org/Biofuel_Myths.html<br />Over the last few decades, productivity gains have surpassed 30 percent, reducing the need to expand the cultivated farmland. The production of sugar cane uses low levels of pesticides, has the largest program of biological pest control in Brazil, has the lowest level of soil erosion, recycles all its wastes, does not undermine the quality of water resources, and accounts for the largest area of organic production in the country.An analysis of the growth sustained by the industry provides evidence to challenge the argument that growing sugar cane for the purpose of producing ethanol is harmful to the environment. On the contrary, biofuels have had positive social and environmental impacts, by recovering previously deforested areas, providing crop rotation and aeration of farmlands used for food production, in addition to employing almost one million workers, including through a system of family cooperatives. Moreover, the significant increase that has been seen in sugar-cane agriculture in Brazil, which is concentrated mainly in the state of São Paulo, distant from the Amazon region, and occupies only 0.6 % of Brazil’s land area, is primarily the result of productivity gains and research efforts.<br />Biofuels - Brazilian Embassy. (n.d.). . Retrieved February 1, 2011, from http://www.brasilemb.org/energy/biofuels<br />Social <br />Not everyone is pleased with the growth of Brazil's ethanol industry. Whereas the growth of the ethanol industry is likely to boost the Brazilian GDP, concerns remain that the majority of citizens will not benefit from the project. The Forum of Resistance to Agribusiness, a consortium of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) throughout South America recently released a statement insisting that the implementation of a program for the production and export of biofuels presents a grave threat to the natural resources of Brazil as well as the sovereignty of Brazilian citizens. ìThe era of biofuels will reproduce and legitimize the logic of the occupation of rural areas by multinational agribusiness and perpetuate the colonial project to subvert ecosystems and people to the service of the production and maintenance of a lifestyle in other societies.î The relationship that is of greatest concern to the Forum is the growing partnership between Brazil and the United States. Given U.S. plans to import greater quantities of ethanol from Brazil, the Forum fears Brazil will compromise the livelihood of many Brazilians, particularly the rural poor, to meet U.S. demands. <br />This fear originates from the history and social dynamics in rural areas resulting from the sugarcane industry. Sugarcane is one of the oldest industries in Brazil, dating back to the colonial era. Since sugarcane is the feedstock of choice for the production of ethanol in Brazil, the Forum fears that the growth of the ethanol industry will result in a similar pattern of labor exploitation and land concentration. <br />The sugar and ethanol industry is among the productive sectors that employ the most workers in Brazil. It creates about one million direct jobs (including in family companies and cooperatives) and six million indirect jobs. Working conditions on sugar cane farms are, on average, better than in other industries of the Brazilian economy. The average family income of such workers is higher than that of 50 percent of Brazilian families. The Brazilian government monitors the industry to ensure that labor laws and regulations are being complied with. The occurrence of forced labor in sugar plantations is residual and the government has intensified its inspections, thereby curbing abuses. In 2006, inspections in the state of São Paulo alone, which accounts for 80 percent of the overall Brazilian ethanol production, reached 745,000 workers. Of this total, only 298 workers (i.e. about 0.04%) were found to be in conditions similar to forced labor.<br />Biofuels - Brazilian Embassy. (n.d.). . Retrieved February 1, 2011, from http://www.brasilemb.org/energy/biofuels<br />There is also concentration of income, given that<br />producers and processors make large profits, while<br />workers are displaced or earn low wages (Barrocal<br />2007; Oliveira 2007).<br />1 million seasonal workers (Lima 2007). Work conditions<br />are unhealthy, shortening working life and even<br />causing death from exhaustion, due to manual cutting of<br />sugar cane involving tens of thousands cutting strokes<br />per day (Barrocal 2007; Lima 2007; Silva 2007).<br />Displacement and seasonal labour involve physical and<br />cultural destruction of multifunctional family farms and<br />traditional communities (Bispo & Privado 2005;<br />Rede Cerrado 2006; ISPN 2005, 2006, 2007).<br />Finally, although cane and soya in Brazil are<br />different from maize in the USA, food prices are rising<br />owing to competition for land and capital in the current<br />context of expanding markets for grain and beef<br />(CONSEA 2007; Economist 2007; FAO 2007). This<br />benefits farmers, and could even help them adopt more<br />sustainable practices, but it stimulates frontier expansion<br />and does not benefit the population at large.<br />The apparent<br />biodiesel and alcohol boom in Brazil could collapse<br />into an empty frontier, not unlike the collapse of the<br />rubber economy, except for the dimensions of its<br />devastation. The result could be degraded land subject<br />to fire, abandoned infrastructure, bankrupt farmers<br />and unemployed seasonal workers. The Cerrado and<br />the Amazon, no longer needed for production of<br />carbohydrates or plant oils, could become vast<br />degraded pastures, as might be predicted on the basis<br />of the model of land use of von Thu¨nen (Hall 1966).<br />Widespread low-intensity backlands ranching would<br />also involve increased production of methane, another<br />potent greenhouse gas. Induced both directly and<br />indirectly by climate change, dieback could result in<br />economic bust, social unrest and political instability.<br />With less rainfall being transmitted inland, desertification<br />might result. Thus, by a different route, more<br />global than the one they envisaged, the scenario<br />suggested by Goodland & Irwin (1975)—from Green<br />Hell to Red Desert—could come true, at least in part,<br />but not limited to environmental change.<br />The Social cost of Brazil’s biofuel Expansion<br />A woman washer her family’s clothes. All the water used by the community comes from self dug well. Rio Brihante, Brazil 10/23/2010<br />A tractor sprays pesticides on the sugarcane crops next to the community. The state law states that agro-chemicals should not be sprayed within 200m of communities. Rio Brilhante, Brazil. 23/10/2010<br />Lislene, 18 months, was nearly killed on the road last week. quot;
Are my children no better than dogs to be killed on the road?quot;
asked her mother, Josefa Gonçalves, 19. Rio Brilhante, Brazil. 23/10/2010.<br />Performing a traditional prayer dance. The Guaraní Kaiowá are deeply spiritual and believe that one day they will return to 'a land without evil'. Rio Brilhante, Brazil. 21/10/2010.<br />Performing a traditional prayer dance. The Guaraní Kaiowá are deeply spiritual and believe that one day they will return to 'a land without evil'. Rio Brilhante, Brazil. 21/10/2010. much ethanol Brazil can supply.<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4g1RP85gVy4<br />America’s thirst for ethanol is set to grow in line with targets in last year’s Energy Independence and Security Act. Brazil would like to sell more to Europe and Japan too. Yet just when it seems poised to reduce the world’s dependence on oil, its largely sugar-based ethanol industry stands accused of being less wonderful than it looks. Campaign groups lump it together with biofuels elsewhere, which they blame for raising food prices. Some environmentalists claim that Brazilian farmers have torn up forest to plant cane. Some media reports allege ill-treatment of farm workers. More prosaically, some American officials question how<br />In fact the most noticeable thing about cane-cutting labourers is how fast they are disappearing. At Santelisa Vale, a collection of mills in Ribeirão Preto whose owners include Goldman Sachs, an investment bank, 60% of cane-cutting is already mechanised. The remaining manual cane-cutters will go by 2012. The story is similar across São Paulo state. This may make for a safer industry, but it threatens to leave a large, unskilled workforce unemployed.<br />Biofuels in Brazil: Lean, green and not mean | The Economist. (n.d.). . Retrieved January 26, 2011, from http://www.economist.com/node/11632886<br />IV. Conclusion<br />The exponential increase in worldwide gasoline prices continues to drive interest in the potential of ethanol as an alternative fuel source. Brazil has both the agricultural resources and processing infrastructure to capitalize on this demand. However, sustainable development should maximize opportunities for all members of society, not just those with wealth or power. Accordingly, the challenge to the future of Brazil's ethanol industry is to seek a balance between the financial and technological demands of industry domination with the need for socially conscious policies on industry development. <br />