Fuel farms: croplands of the future
A comprehensive report is given of the use of farmlands for the production of fuel, particularly the production of alcohol to produce gasohol (10% alcohol; 90% petroleum products). Brought about by increasing costs of oil, production of gasohol is proceeding on a worldwide basis led by Brazil, USA, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Trends are discussed as well as tax incentives for greater use of gasohol. Various crops are compared in terms of efficiency of conversion to alcohol and limits to production of alcohol by farmlands are considered. Worldwide interest and the competition between the affluent minority and the poorly nourished in developing countries for the products of farmlands are discussed (full tanks, empty stomachs). Economics of the alcohol fuel programs are considered as well as the by-products of the modified alcohol production process (which may be used for animal feed). It is concluded that an alcohol fuel industry is desirable, but many factors (economic, topsoil depletion, proper choice of crop, international communication and cooperation, priorities, uses of the fuel produced, political aspects, etc.) must be considered on a global scale. (MJJ)
- OSTI ID:
- 5515981
- Journal Information:
- Futurist; (United States), Vol. 14:3; Other Information: Excerpted from Food or Fuel: New Competition for the World's Cropland (Worldwatch Paper 35, published by the Worldwatch Institute, Washington, DC
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ALCOHOL FUELS
PRODUCTION
BIOMASS PLANTATIONS
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
GASOHOL PROGRAM
GLOBAL ASPECTS
REVIEWS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
BIOMASS
COMMERCIALIZATION
COMPETITION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ETHANOL
EXPORTS
FARMS
FOOD
POLITICAL ASPECTS
TAX CREDITS
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
ALCOHOLS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SYNTHETIC FUELS
140504* - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)
299003 - Energy Planning & Policy- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation- Other- (-1989)