PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 12:21 PM by Tevita

Water implications of biofuel crops:
understanding tradeos and identifying options

From : IWMI

Biofuels are being touted as a solution to rising fuel prices, growing
energy demands, and the need to curb emissions of greenhouse
gases. Governments have good reasons for promoting biofuels.
Yet, a headlong rush into growing biofuel crops will bring its own
problems. Unless planned properly, biofuel crops are likely to
escalate competition for water, especially in areas where it is already
scarce.
New research shows what options policymakers have for making
tradeos between biofuels and other uses of water. And, biofuel
crops that give ‘more crop per drop’ lessen the negative impacts and
boost the positive impacts.

Key findings

• The development of biofuels will have an impact on water, food, energy and
the environment. How biofuels will affect these must be considered before
going ahead.
• Globally, there is enough water to produce both food and biofuel. But, in
countries where water is already scarce, like India and China, growing biofuel crops
will aggravate existing problems.
• Producing one liter of ethanol from sugarcane takes nearly 3,500 liters of
precious irrigation water in India, but just 90 liters of irrigation water in Brazil.
In China, it takes 2,400 liters of irrigation for maize to yield a liter of ethanol.
• Certain biofuel crops, such as jatropha trees and sweet sorghum, are less likely
to compete with food crops, use much less water, and have much less impact
on food production and the environment than others.



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DIVA-GIS	Wednesday, January 21, 2009 Posted 12:21 PM by Tevita Water implications of biofuel crops: understanding tradeos and identifying options From : IWMI Biofuels are being touted as a solution to rising fuel prices, growing energy demands, and the need to curb emissions of greenhouse gases. Governments have good reasons for promoting biofuels. Yet, a headlong rush into growing biofuel crops will bring its own problems. Unless planned properly, biofuel crops are likely to escalate competition for water, especially in areas where it is already scarce. New research shows what options policymakers have for making tradeos between biofuels and other uses of water. And, biofuel crops that give ‘more crop per drop’ lessen the negative impacts and boost the positive impacts. Key findings • The development of biofuels will have an impact on water, food, energy and the environment. How biofuels will affect these must be considered before going ahead. • Globally, there is enough water to produce both food and biofuel. But, in countries where water is already scarce, like India and China, growing biofuel crops will aggravate existing problems. • Producing one liter of ethanol from sugarcane takes nearly 3,500 liters of precious irrigation water in India, but just 90 liters of irrigation water in Brazil. In China, it takes 2,400 liters of irrigation for maize to yield a liter of ethanol. • Certain biofuel crops, such as jatropha trees and sweet sorghum, are less likely to compete with food crops, use much less water, and have much less impact on food production and the environment than others. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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