Biofuels As Alternative Energy

The name bio-fuel would suggest that it’s good for the environment, but biofuels as sustainable energy have long been a controversial proposition. Though there are long term benefits to biofuels as efficient energy, the cost of developing biofuel as alternative energy is a high cost exercise.

Biofuel And World Food Shortages

Opponents of biofuels believe that biofuels contribute significantly to world food shortages in short term. Increasingly this is proven true and is detrimental to the interests of the world’s poor. Across many developing countries, new policies and procedures incentivize the production of crops that will be used for fuel, further compounding the problem of food shortages.

From 2000 to 2007, the production of biofuels from crops that could have been used for food increased by over 200%. This has contributed to the rise in the cost of food of as much as 50% and a significant increase of the population suffering from hunger worldwide.

Environmental Impact Of Biofuel

Another strong argument by environmentalist is the increasing cases of forest lands being put into new cultivation to grow biofuels. As more poor farmers convert forests into fields to grow crops for biofuels, the negative environmental and social effects of deforestation overshadow the appeal of developing cleaner energy alternatives and the long term benefits of creating new revenue for farmers.

Some energy experts also cast doubts on whether biofuels is worth consideration as green energy. Most biofuels have little impact on curbing the production of greenhouse gases, with some actually worse than burning petrochemical oil. For example, sugar cane from Brazil emits very little carbon while that from Florida is at near parity with its petrochemical cousins.

The Need To Review Biofuel Policy

Current policies must be reviewed in order to preserve both the goals of sustainable farming and sustainable energy. Protection on poor farmers, promotion of broad-based rural development and ensure environmental sustainability are all equally important for the consideration of biofuels as alternative energy.