Fossil fuel imports and biofuels

Increased demand for corn grain as an ethanol feedstock is altering U.S. agricultural landscapes and the ecosystem services they provide. From 2006 to 2007, corn acreage increased 19% nationally, resulting in reduced crop diversity in many areas. Biological control of insects is an ecosystem service that is strongly influenced by local landscape structure. Here, we estimate the value of natural biological control of the soybean aphid, a major pest in agricultural landscapes, and the economic impacts of reduced biocontrol caused by increased corn production in 4 U.S. states (Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin). For producers who use an integrated pest management strategy including insecticides as needed, natural suppression of soybean aphid in soybean is worth an average of $33 ha−1. At 2007–2008 prices these services are worth at least $239 million y−1 in these 4 states. Recent biofuel-driven growth in corn planting results in lower landscape diversity, altering the supply of aphid natural enemies to soybean fields and reducing biocontrol services by 24%. This loss of biocontrol services cost soybean producers in these states an estimated $58 million y−1 in reduced yield and increased pesticide use. For producers who rely solely on biological control, the value of lost services is much greater. These findings from a single pest in 1 crop suggest that the value of biocontrol services to the U.S. economy may be underestimated. Furthermore, we suggest that development of cellulosic ethanol production processes that use a variety of feedstocks could foster increased diversity in agricultural landscapes and enhance arthropod-mediated ecosystem services.

As fossil energy resources are in decline and the need to become less reliant on energy imports is becoming more and more relevant in political discussions, alternative energy sources are needed. Biofuels are one possible replacement for fossil fuels. Although biofuels still cost more than fossil fuels, their share in terms of use is increasing worldwide. The global production of biofuels is now estimated to be about 5 billion litres per year.

Biofuels can make a significant contribution in reducing the dependency on fossil fuel imports, especially in the transport sector. Another advantage of biofuels is their contribution to climate protection: as biofuels are usually considered to be CO neutral, their use helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, are a major source of CO
emissions. In Europe, for example, transport is responsible for about 1 percent of all GHG emissions that contribute to global warming.

Biofuels are usually used for transport fuels, but they are also applicable for electricity and heat generation. In relation to reducing dependency on fossil fuel imports, the use of biofuels as transport fuels is particularly effective; however, from a climate protection point of view the efficiency could be greater if biomass were also used for generating both heat and electricity in CHP plants.

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Fossil fuel imports and biofuels