ANOTHER BIOFUEL BAD

The law of unintended consequences strikes again and NewEnergyNews must plead guilty. Mea culpa, mea culpa.

Early on, when the fight was (and still is) against AGROfuels, it seemed like a good idea – if there must be biofuels – to urge the planting of “second generation” nonfood crops on non-crop lands, plants like Jatropha and Switchgrass.

Since then, the option of algae has seemed far more attractive and NewEnergyNews has advocated for it. (See ALGAE:BORN TO BE BIOFUEL and ALGAE: FUTURE FUEL)

A recent presentation by scientists at the UN affirms the wisdom of moving away from even the second generation biofuels plants: "Some of the most commonly recommended species for biofuels production are also major invasive alien species…"

International Union for Conservation of Nature: "Don't let invasive biofuel crops attack your country."

The biofuels industry does have a counter argument. Willy De Greef, incoming secretary general, EuropaBio: "There are very few plants that are 'weeds' - full stop…You have to look at the biology of the plant and the environment where you're introducing it and ask, are there worry points here?"

Some scientists see a middle ground, a possibility to develop second generation biofuel crops under control. Furthermore, there is the harsh reality that scientists either cooperate with growers to control invasive species or leave the growers to do their worst.

Stas Burgiel, scientist, Nature Conservancy: "With biofuels we need to do proper assessments and take appropriate measures, so they don't get out of the gate, so to speak…If [one region] says no and the investors go next door, you've got the problem anyway…"

The development of plant species in new regions has a history of creating change. (Ex: Mesquite introduced into Australia and Africa for charcoal, shade and erosion control invaded pasturelands, making them unusable.)

Geoffrey Howard, invasive species expert, International Union, commenting on what mesquite did to Australian grazing lands: "It [is] all covered by awful spiny bushes so that people and their animals can't find anything to eat…We want to make sure that doesn't happen again through biofuels."

Jatropha was recently banned in Australia. But the biofuels industry still thinks it’s a good bet. De Greef, EuropaBio: "Just because a species has caused a problem in one place, doesn't make it a weed everywhere."

Algae seem to be the best biofuels sources left. Algae are grown under highly controlled circumstances, in plastic bags. Most of the water required is recycled and growing does not require cropland or harmful chemicals. It also produces far more per acre (or hectare) than any crop.

One of the many advantages of algae: Grown in controlled, factory-like circumstances. (click to enlarge)

New biofuel sources may not be food, but they could prove invasive
Elisabeth Rosenthal, May 20, 2008 (International Herald Tribune)

WHO
Biologists and botanists from the Global Invasive Species Program, the Nature Conservancy, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and other groups;

Jatropha has a lot going for it - but there are problems. (click to enlarge)

WHAT
An unintended consequence of the increased growing of nonfood crops for biofuels is the uncontrolled encroachment by the hearty weed-like plants on croplands.

WHEN
- The last year has seen a dramatic upsurge in awareness of the harm from unintended consequences as a result of the implementation in the last half decades of incentives to grow biofuels crops.
- On May 20, scientists described another.

There are many native grasses but they could "attack" food crops. (click to enlarge)

WHERE
- Nonfood crops for biofuels are already being widely grown in Asia and Africa and there are extensive plans to implement growth in the U.S. and Europe.
- The EU has a binding 10% biofuels in transport target by 2020.
- In Florida, the Everglades are threatened by plans to propagate a giant reed as a biofuels source.

WHY
- Perhaps the most widely pursued nonfood biofuels crop in Asia and Africa is Jatropha. In the U.S., it would be switchgrass.
- Such nonfood crops are often weed-like succulents and reeds, aggressively invasive and hard to stop or eliminate.
- The scientific conclusion about the potential danger came after matching lists of second generation biofuels plants with list of invasive species and finding significant overlap.
- Biofuels farmers insist they will keep the crops under control.
- There are programs in the EU and Florida to propogate a “giant reed.”
- Invasive species presently cost the world $1.4 trillion/year.

Algae yields are superior to agrofuel or 2nd generation crops. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Geoffrey Howard, invasive species expert, International Union: "With biofuels, there's always a hurry,'…Plantations are started by investors - often from the U.S. or Europe - so they are eager to generate biofuels within a couple of years and also, as you might guess, they don't want a negative assessment."
- Howard, on the potency of the second generation plants: "These are tough survivors, which means they're good producers for biofuel because they grow well on marginal land that you wouldn't use for food…But we've had 100 years of experience with introductions of these crops that turned out to be disastrous for environment, people, health."