India Biofuels Annual

USDA Foreign Agricultural Service

2009/06/15

India's bio-fuel strategy continues to focus on use of non-food sources for production of bio-fuels: sugar molasses for production of ethanol for blending with gasoline, and non-edible oilseeds for production of bio-diesel for blending with petro-diesel. The government's current target of five percent blending of ethanol with petrol has been partially successful in years of surplus sugar production, but falters when sugar production declines. The commercial production of bio-diesel for blending with petro-diesel has been very small due to inadequate feed stocks.

Keywords: energy, biofuel, India

Green Fuels for Development? Improving Policy Coherence in West Africa

Sahel and West Africa Club/OECD

2008/09/02

This paper addresses the opportunities, challenges and risks related to the development of bio-fuels in the Sahel and West Africa where problems of food security and purchasing power are most keenly felt. After covering the facts and debate surrounding green fuel, this paper presents the national and regional policies and strategies regarding food and land issues. A Code of Good Conduct setting out the conditions for a Green Fuel for Development label could reconcile West Africa's trade, energy and food goals while allowing the region to find a place in the new world energy market.

Keywords: energy, biofuel, West Africa, OECD, green fuel

2025: Fields for Food or Fuel? Scenarios for a New Biomass Regime

Fields for Food or Fuel project brochure

Keywords: energy, biofuel

Opportunities and challenges of biofuels for the agricultural sector and the food security of developing countries

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

2008

This study was prepared by Daniel De La Torre Ugarte, Associate Director of the University of Tennessee's Agricultural Policy Analysis Center within the framework of the activities of the UNCTAD Biofuels Initiative.

Keywords: energy, biofuel, United Nations, development, food security

Making Sustainable Biofuels Work For Smallholder Farmers And Rural Households

Andrea Rossi and Yianna Lambrou

FAO 2009

The global demand for liquid biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel is rapidly increasing. This is due mainly to the policies that numerous developed countries have recently adopted to either support or mandate the production and use of such fuels. These policies have been introduced to pursue multiple goals, such as reducing dependence on oil imports and increasing energy security, cutting GHG emissions from the transport sector and opening new markets for farmers.

Keywords: energy, and, biofuel, production, ethanol, diesel, mandate, policies, oil, GHG, emission, transport, market, farmer

Solar photovoltaics for sustainable agriculture and rural development

B. van Campen, D. Guidi and G. Best

FAO 2000

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have shown their potential in rural electrification projects around the world, especially concerning Solar Home Systems. With continuing price decreases of PV systems, other applications are becoming economically attractive and growing experience is gained with the use of PV in such areas as social and communal services, agriculture and other productive activities, which can have a significant impact on rural development. There is still a lack of information, however, on the potential and limitations of such PV applications. The main aim of this study is, therefore, to contribute to a better understanding of the potential impact and of the limitations of PV systems on sustainable agriculture and rural development (SARD), especially concerning income-generating activities.

Keywords: energy, and, biofuel, agriculture, PV, rural, sustainable, development, income, generation, solar, electrification, renewable, source, price

The GBEP Common Methodological Framework For GHG Lifecycle Analysis Of Bioenergy

FAO 2009

The Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) builds its activities upon three strategic areas: Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Food and Energy Security. It is a forum where national governments and organizations seek to facilitate effective policy frameworks and suggest rules and tools to promote sustainable bioenergy development through voluntary cooperation.

Keywords: energy, and, biofuel, global, partnership, sustainable, development, climate, change, environment, food, security, government, organization, framework, tools

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION REPORT 2010

UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION

UNCTAD 2010

UNCTAD’s Technology and Innovation Report 2010 focuses on the technological challenges that small-holder farmers in developing countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa, face in increasing agricultural productivity. It outlines the agricultural sector’s challenges and the roles of technology and innovation in raising production and the income of small-holder farmers. And it describes readily available technologies that can be applied now to improve soils, manage water shortages and resist drought.

Keywords: energy and biofuel, Africa, smallholder, farmers, agriculture, drought, soil, technology, report, developing, countries, innovation, production, income

Renewable energy for the agricultural sector to enhance energy security and food security

Policy Brief

UNESCAP 2009/12

Deepening dependence on fossil fuels as a result of unsustainable energy production and consumption patterns and energy insecurity has begotten vulnerability to volatile energy prices, which have affected agricultural production, transportation, and commodity prices, and, hence, adversely impacted food security.

Keywords: energy and biofuel, fossil fuel, sustainable, consumption, agriculture, production, price, commodity, impact

Fields of Fuel: Market and Environmental Implications of Switching to Grass for U.S. Transport

LIZ MARSHALL and ZACHARY SUGG

World Resources Institute 2010/08/13

This study examines the impacts of increased commercial switchgrass production on U.S. agricultural land-use patterns, commodity prices, and the environmental impacts of cropping systems in the agricultural sector.

Keywords: energy, and, biofuel, U.S., agriculture, land, production, cropping, system

Releasing the Pressure: Water Resource Efficiencies and Gains for Ecosystem Services

SEI

2012/03/23

This report by researchers at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) urges policymakers to take into account water regulation and purification, pollination, erosion control and other ecosystems services performed by wetlands and forests. These water-dependent services, and the communities that rely on them, can be adversely affected when water is siphoned off from rivers or streams, or drained from marshes, for agricultural use. Balancing these goals can serve to improve human well-being, increase crop yields in a sustainable way and support the transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient and equitable green economy.

Keywords: water, energy, environment, sustainability, rivers, ecosystems, green economy, carbon, drainage

Fuelling Exclusion? The Biofuels Boom And Poor People’s Access To Land

Lorenzo Cotula, Nat Dyer and Sonja Vermeulen

FAO and IIED 2008

This study finds that biofuels can be instrumental in bringing an agricultural renaissance that revitalises land use and livelihoods in rural areas. Price signals to small-scale farmers could significantly increase both yields and incomes, securing real, long-term poverty reduction in countries that have a high dependence on agricultural commodities. Large-scale biofuels cultivation could also provide benefits in the form of employment, skills development and secondary industry.

Keywords: energy, and, biofuel, land, livelihoods, rural, employment, industry, development, skills, poverty, small scale, farmer, cultivation, price, income, yields, agriculture

Forests and energy: Key issues

FAO 2008

Forests and energy are at the centre of the global debate on climate change. This publication addresses some of the most important trends in both these sectors to enlighten the debate.

Keywords: energy, and, biofuel, forest, global, climate, change, trends, development, land, environment, ecology

Bioenergy Development In G8 +5 Countries

FAO 2007

Bioenergy sits at the intersection of three of the world's great challenges - energy security, climate change, and poverty reduction - and has received an enormous amount of attention in the past few years. Joint work on these issues is vital considering that together, the G8 +5 Countries account for about 55 percent of the world's population, 70+ percent of global GDP, and about 72 percent of world energy-related and industry CO2 emissions (excluding deforestation).

Keywords: energy, and, biofuel, development, climate, change, poverty, reduction, population, CO2, emission

Algae-Based Biofuels: A Review of Challenges and Opportunities for Developing Countries

FAO 2009

Algae have recently received a lot of attention as a new biomass source for the production of renewable energy. Some of the main characteristics which set algae apart from other biomass sources are that algae (can) have a high biomass yield per unit of light and area, can have a high oil or starch content, do not require agricultural land, fresh water is not essential and nutrients can be supplied by wastewater and CO2 by combustion gas.

Keywords: energy, and, biofuel, algae, biomass, renewable, light, oil, starch, agriculture, land, water, nutrients, gas, CO2