A Pathway to Energy and Food Security with Biodiesel

Abstract

The simultaneous rise in commodity prices and the global production of biofuels, between 2007 and 2008, strengthened discussions, which persist currently, about the competition of land use between biofuel production and food production. The objective of this paper is to compare and evaluate the arguments from both sides. The methodology used was an analysis of the relevant and comprehensive reports and manuscripts on the topic, comparing them to the available data from international organizations and agencies. Biodiesel received special attention in this analysis. The conclusion is that hunger and poverty problems are due to structural and historical roots and they do not have a cause-effect relationship with biodiesel production. In fact, the production of biodiesel, under specific regulatory and production conditions, can be a driver of economic development improving energy security and promoting social inclusion in poor countries, which still have land available for agriculture.

Experimental Performance Assessment of Vertically Installed Solar Thermal Collectors

“…Also, the share of biofuels use in transport sector is increasing, new types (e.g. biobutanol) being proposed as a potential sustainable biofuel [9], despite the controversial debate of biofuels versus food competition [10]. Space heating represents the largest share in the energy demand of the built environment in temperate and cold climates [11], thus the use of solar thermal collectors to convert solar into thermal energy for space heating, and for domestic hot water production, represents a challenge in these climates because the number of sunshine hours is rather low during the cold seasons, when heating is needed [12].…”

A holistic approach to sustainable development of energy, water and environment systems

“…These two studies demonstrated that technologies for biomass conversion to bioethanol are energy intensive and that the produced biofuel can be either used directly in a generator set to produce electricity or upgraded to produce transportation fuels. Dias et al (2016) discussed the competition of land use between biodiesel production and food production, and concluded that the production of biodiesel, under specific regulatory and production conditions, could become a driver of economic development.…”

Addressing Concerns Related to the Use of Ethanol-Blended Fuels in Marine Vehicles

“…The use of biofuels has caused some concerns about its effect on food production [4]. As Dias et al [5] describes that although US corn production grew by 70% between 2004 and 2007, much of it was used to produce fuel ethanol which consumes 65% of the corn produced.…”