BIOFUELS:
AN EMERGING SOURCE OF ENERGY
Current Issues regarding Biofuels
Ethical Issues...
Food vs Fuel Debate
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One ethical issue is to improve current production methods because currently biofuels compete with basic necessities of humans: food and water. Corn is a staple food and is used for ethanol production along with water and vegetable oils are used for biodiesel. (I.1)
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Environmental Sustainability
Biofuels are present the issue of deforestation. For the production of ethanol from sugarcane, rainforests are being cleared for sugarcane production in Brazil. Scientists are looking at ways to make biofuels more environmentally sustainable. (I.1)
Loss of Biodiversity
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In Malaysia, forest of palm oil plantations has had impacts on biodiversity. For example, the orang-utan (a native animal to Malaysia dan Indonesia) is becoming extinct. Another growing concern is that land used for growing crops for biofuels is pushing our indigenous communities. (I.1)
Legal Issues...
Equitable distribution of Cost and Benefits
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Since biofuel crops produce low amounts of energy, more land is needed to make the fuel which causes scientists to question whether the benefits outweigh the costs. (I.2)
Workers
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Although low prices and unfair wages for field workers and farmers have been associated with production of biofuels, the increasing market for biofuel is providing people jobs globally. (I.2)
Social Issues...
Indirect land use change (ILUC)
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The ILUC is the effect that an increasing demand for biofuels can have a huge effect on global agriculture. ILUC impacts from sugar and starch based biofuels are low while soybean and palm oil have very large ILUC emissions. (I.4)
Greenhouse Gas Emission
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To produce crops for biofuels, grassland or forests are turned into farmlands which cause the carbon in the soil to be released into the atmosphere. An increase in carbon dioxide is an net increase in greenhouse gas emissions. (I.3)
(S.I.1)
Rise in Food Prices
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One of the ethical issues regarding the production of ethanol from corn is an increase in food prices. Because a huge portion of corn is converted into biofuels and there is only some available for food, corn prices have greatly increased. (I.2)
Pollution
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When ethanol is produced, chemicals such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde are released into the atmosphere. Burning biodiesel also emits potentially hazardous compounds into the air. These chemicals can prove toxic to living cells, posing as a threat to plants, animals, and humans. (I.3)
