food vs. fuel debate

A new study by Friends of the Earth asserts the development of Africa's biofuel sector is leading to a "land grab" by foreign companies at the expense of local communities. 

The news for corn-based ethanol is getting worse:  nitrogen used to fertilize corn has helped created a "dead zone" the size of the state of New Jersey in the Gulf of Mexico.

The food versus fuel biofuel debate has been waging for years; and, with advent of larger biofuel mandates in the United States, the battle has only intensified. 

Foreign energy companies have descended on Ghana, the West African nation that was once the center of the North American slave trade, as it engages in oil exploration and plans start drilling for crude this year, a move its government hopes will help to stamp out poverty.

It is safe to say that corn ethanol has become whipping boy for biofuel critics.  But, after a disastrous couple of years, the American corn ethanol industry may be coming back.

A new UK study promoting the merits of waste-based biofuel production, once again raises the alarm on the industry's over-emphasis on crop-based fuels.

In Britain, a new study has been commissioned to assess the ethics behind biofuel production.

The UK Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCB) is asking for anyone and everyone's view on biofuels--everything from corn-based ethanol to algae derived biofuel--in order to advise the British government on a way to develop biofuels without taking food from the poor.

Mozambique's latest political corruption scandals probably make more news, but the African nation largely known for civil strife and deplorable living conditions, also faces economical dilemmas as it decides on biofuel crop production.

Biofuels vs. Food Crops

In the western state of Jalisco, 65 000 hectares of sugar cane have been set aside by the Mexican government to be used for biofuel production.

This coincides with the government's invitation for tenders to join a contract that will see 176 million liters of ethanol to be used as transport fuel in an attempt to drastically reduce the country's carbon emissions.

It's been 30 years since sugar cane crops have been seen in Angola. But as the oil-rich country takes its first step toward biofuels, it will begin planting the well-known crop on a 30,000 hectare site in the Malanje province.