Food and Fuel Production Co-Exist in Brazil

Cindy Zimmerman

World Food PrizeThe promise of new science and technology for increasing food and fuel production was part of a conversation panel at the World Food Prize Norman Borlaug Symposium in Des Moines on Wednesday.

Among the panelists was Brazil’s former minister of agriculture Roberto Rodrigues, co-chair of the International Biofuels Commission, who talked about the importance of biofuels development for developing nations. “Biofuels depend enormously on sun,” Rodriques said. “That means that the production of biofuels, bioelectricity and agri-energy in general will happen between the two tropics – the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn – Latin American countries, African countries and the poorest Asian countries,” meaning that the poorest countries could be the producers of the most important commodity – energy.

World Food Prize Roberto RodriguesRodrigues says “absolutely we are going to improve new technologies and we are able to feed humankind and produce biofuels all together.” He notes that Brazil is a good example of what can be done in that regard and that there is a “myth” that production of sugarcane for ethanol is reducing the production of food. “This year we have a record grain production, but we also have record sugarcane production, record meat production and record production of dairy products -so there is no competition between sugarcane and food in Brazil and we can apply that in African, other Latin American and Asian countries.”

Listen to Rodrigues’ comments here:
[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/world-food/wfp-08-roberto.MP3]

See photos of the World Food Prize event here.

Audio, Ethanol, food and fuel, International

Managing Water for Future Ethanol Sustainability

John Davis

The amount of water that goes into growing the corn that goes into ethanol has been a big topic of conversation between those for and against production of the green fuel. That’s why it is a topic of conversation at the Farm Foundation’s Transition to a Bioeconomy: Environmental and Rural Impacts Conference in St. Louis this week. This gathering of government officials, academics and industry leaders is designed to take on the tough questions facing Rural America as it moves to a bioeconomy.

One of the people in the ethanol/water discussion is Noel Gollehon, a senior economist with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. He says the amount of irrigated corn is particularly concerning.

“About 15 percent of corn that is in counties that have ethanol plants is irrigated.” He adds that it takes 2,500 gallons for a bushel of corn. Now, while a large amount of that is grown in areas that uses the natural rainfall, what is worrisome is the corn grown in the drier western plains, where it equates to 750-1,000 gallons of irrigation water for each gallon of ethanol using irrigated corn as a feedstock. He says the answer might be cellulosic ethanol. However, he says it is no panacea and might be just as damaging to finite underground water sources.

“Working through this transition (to a bioeconomy), we have to use what we have,” says Gollehon. “But as we look forward, we hope we can develop cellulosic-based ethanol that doesn’t rely on that type of crop that has to be irrigated in those environments.”

Gollehon says we’ve been irrigating in this country for about 100 years, and if we want, we can keep doing that until all the water is gone… if we want to go down that route. But he believes that conversations, such as this one at the Farm Foundation’s conference, coupled with new technologies will get people to look at longer-term sustainability.

Hear more of my conversation with Gollehon here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/farm-foundation/Gollehon.mp3]

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Farm Foundation, News

Biofuels Talk at World Food Prize Event

Cindy Zimmerman

These days, a dialogue about global food has to include biofuels – the two have become inseparable in recent years. At the World Food Prize Norman Borlaug Symposium this week in Des Moines many speakers are addressing how biofuels fit in the global food outlook.

World Food Prize Gordon ConwayThe keynote speaker for the symposium kickoff Wednesday was Sir Gordon Conway, who is chief scientific adviser for the UK. He talked about the spike in food prices over the past year and listed at least ten underlying causes, demand for biofuels being only one and he did not single it out as being a major culprit. He also pointed out the increasing global population, higher per capita income, increased demand for meat, higher prices for energy and fertilizer, and a shortage of arable land as some of the other factors.

Conway stressed the need to address why we want to produce biofuels and the urgency to move quickly into second and even third generation biofuels – such as cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass and biodiesel from algae. “Maybe we should have a new World Food Prize on this,” Conway said. “In which we transform the world from one dependent on fossil fuels for energy and production of chemicals, into one that depends on plants as a basic source of our economy.”

Listen to Conway’s comments here:
[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/world-food/wfp-08-conway-biofuels.mp3]

The World Food Prize was established in 1986 by Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug to honor the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. This year’s winners are former U.S. Senators George McGovern and Bob Dole, who are being honored for their work in establishing the McGovern-Dole international school-feeding program which has provided meals to feed more than 22 million children in 41 countries.

See photos of the World Food Prize event here.

Audio, Biodiesel, Ethanol, International

Iowa E85 Sales in First 2 Quarters of 2008 Exceed Total 2007 Sales

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) recently announced that, according to the Department of Revenue, E85 sales already have exceeded all of 2007 sales. Retailers reached 3,519,575 gallons during the first six months of 2008 – surpassing total 2007 sales of 3,420,557 gallons.

“As gas prices continued to rise in 2008, a growing number of consumers relied on E85 for a cheaper, cleaner fuel alternative,” said Monte Shaw, IRFA Executive Director. “Retailers are responding with 20 new E85 stations so far this year. We’re on track to have over 100 E85 retailers by the end of the year.”

The rate of E85 sales in Iowa is increasing as well. Second quarter’s 2,217,095 gallons were nearly double first quarter’s 1,302,480 gallons of E85 sales.

As of January 2008, there were nearly 80,400 flexible fuel vehicles registered in Iowa. Currently, there are 102 E85 fueling stations in the state.

E85, Ethanol, News

GM and NGA Partner to Bring More E85 to 10 States

The National Governors Association (NGA) announced today that it will partner with General Motors Corporation (GM) and 10 states to bring more E85 infrastructure to their growing number of flexible fuel vehicles. The states involved in this collaboration are: Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

“Improving the use of clean, domestically grown biofuels like ethanol will help move us toward a cleaner, more secure energy future,” said John Thomasian, director of the NGA Center for Best Practices.

“The infrastructure for E85 needs to expand now if the nation is to be ready for the significant growth in ethanol coming from new cellulosic and biomass sources,” said Beth Lowery, GM vice president of environment, energy and safety policy. “We need a range of alternatives to offset growing oil demand in this country and globally.”

Under the terms of the partnerships, GM will help states assess optimal locations for E85 pump locations.

Car Makers, E85, Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles

Many Voices, Many Opinions, One Goal

John Davis

You don’t have to agree to come up with agreeable solutions… that seems to be the theme for the latest Farm Foundation Transition to a Bioeconomy Conference.

This is the third in a series of these Farm Foundation-sponsored meetings designed to get a handle on the changing farm economy and what the expansion of biofuels, particularly ethanol and biodiesel, means to rural America. The focus of this week’s meeting has been the ramifications of the bioeconomy on the environment and rural development.

President of Farm Foundation, Neil Conklin, says bringing together a diverse group of government, academic and industry leaders, who might not agree on everything, is key to the success of these forums.

“We like to call ourselves a catalyst for better food, agriculture and rural policy.”

Conklin says, first of all, they want to address issues affecting the rural economy, especially as it pertains to the bioeconomy, and second, what are the environmental effects of these actions. He says there are often times unintended consequences as people rush to keep up with the changing bioeconomy.

“[We want to] bring people to the table who have a deep understanding of these issues to talk about the [direct and indirect consequences] and how can we deal with those.”

Two more conferences are coming up in this series of Farm Foundation conferences. The first, late next winter, will look at the global implications of the bioeconomy and the second, early next spring, will consider how extension services help rural communities make the adjustment as we make this transition.

For my entire interview with Neil, click here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/farm-foundation/NeilConklin.mp3]

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Farm Foundation, News

Growing Jobs in a Growing Bioeconomy

John Davis

How we develop rural jobs as the country moves to a bioeconomy was the latest subject tackled today at the Farm Foundation’s Transition to a Bioeconomy: Environmental and Rural Impacts Conference in St. Louis.

One of the key speakers during this session was USDA’s Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas Dorr, who talked about how we need to move forward and be aggressive… even in light of the recent stock market turbulence.

“I don’t think there’s any question that we have to move forward,” says Dorr. He says with the U.S. importing $700 billion in foreign oil… many times from those who would wish us harm… it has become an energy security and national security issue. “Why would we want to subject our kids and grandkids to that sort of dependency?”

Dorr admits that it might be easier said than done, “but there are an extraordinary numbers of hard working people who keep their shoulder to the wheel all the time to make these things work. That’s the American way.”

No matter if Republican John McCain or Democrat Barack Obama wins the election in less than three weeks, there will be a new administration in Washington, DC. Dorr expects plenty of policy debates, much like the debate we’re hearing at today’s conference, as the new administration moves forward. He believes that biofuels will be a major point for whomever is the next one to sit in the Oval Office.

Listen to more of my conversation with Dorr here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/farm-foundation/ThomasDorr.mp3]

E85, Farm Foundation, Government

Questions, Discussions Dominate Transition Conference

John Davis

How do we meet carbon reduction goals?
How do we reduce our carbon footprint with biodiesel and ethanol without actually creating more carbon from the production of those biofuels?
What are the trade-offs and benefits we could see between securing our food supplies and our energy security?
And how do we make all these things work while not damaging the environment we seek to save through the use and production of biofuels?

These are all good questions that came out the first session this morning as panelists and audience members at the Farm Foundation’s Transition to a Bioeconomy: Environmental and Rural Development Impacts Conference here in St. Louis.

One of the presenters, John Reilly from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), says we must be careful we’re not expanding one environmentally-friendly source just to infringe on another area of the environment.

“Biofuel could be a major, major supplier of fuel in the future and, in principle, could be a low carbon source. But the indirect effects on land use is a large concern.”

Reilly says we must make sure that we don’t convert forests into farmland and lose any benefit that we gain from the production and use of ethanol and biodiesel.

You can hear more of my conversation with Reilly here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/farm-foundation/JohnReilly.mp3]

Biodiesel, Environment, Ethanol, Farm Foundation, global warming, News

Meeting the Environmental Challenges of Biofuels

John Davis

A fascinating discussion this morning at the opening session of the Transition to a Bioeconomy: Environmental and Rural Development Impacts conference here in St. Louis.

Speakers have included government and university experts who are presenting what challenges face the bioeconomy, especially on the environmental side of the issue.

Kitty Smith with the USDA’s Economic Research Service and chair of the “The Bioeconomy & the Environment” session says biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, are a much better alternative to non-renewable fossil fuels.

“But there are legal, economic and market public management challenges to be met.”

She says a platform, such as the one Farm Foundation is providing here, gives the diverse group attending a chance to put forth their ideas in a climate where everyone is not necessarily coming from the exact same background.

“The Farm Foundation is outstanding at bringing together academics, government and industry to talk about practical kinds of problems, so individuals aren’t speaking to like minds… they’re speaking to a diverse audience where ideas and challenges come back from the audience.”

You can hear my conversation with Smith here:

[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/farm-foundation/KittySmith.mp3]
Biodiesel, Ethanol, Farm Foundation, Government, News

Transition to a Bioeconomy About to Begin

John Davis

The latest in a series of Farm Foundation-sponsored meetings on how to transition the country to a bioeconomy is about to get underway this morning in St. Louis, Mo.

Transition to a Bio Economy: Environmental and Rural Development Impacts is taking place at the Hyatt Regency-Union Station today and tomorrow, and your intrepid blogger will be here to update you as the various sessions progress.

Today’s, we’ll start with a session entitled: The Bioeconomy & the Environment, and it really should be a good one with speakers from the USDA, EPA, academic and private industry fields getting together to come up with solutions for the environmental challenges a bioeconomy presents.

I snapped a quick picture of this morning’s conference room as people were still out grabing a quick bite of breakfast before they jump into the activities of the day:

I’ll be stationed at the back of the room, online… and ready to bring you into the activities of the day.

Biodiesel, Environment, Ethanol, Farm Foundation