Learn strategies for growing feedstocks while reducing erosion.
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| Erosion near the edge of a freshly planted field after heavy spring rain. Bare soil is particularly susceptible to erosion. Crop residues can help hold soil in place. Photo: Michael Bomford. |
There is strong interest in production and use of agricultural crops for biofuels. However, these crops, like all others, need to be grown in …
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Biofuel life cycle analysis. Photo: U.S. Dept. of Energy Biomass Program |
Explore life cycle analysis to understand how biodiesel impacts the environment.
Life cycle analysis is a relatively recent tool, growing in popularity, that is used to estimate the environmental, energy and economic performance of a product or a system. …
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Irrigation is Nevada. Photo: US EPA and National Archive and Record Administration; Wikimedia Commons. |
Learn how efficient irrigation technologies and practices reduce water and power costs.
Find these topics and many other related Farm Energy media resources
Do you have enough water to start a biofuel feedstock crop? Learn how much water is required to grow and process biofuels.
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Biofuel crop research plots. Photo: Dennis Pennington, Bioenergy Educator, Michigan State University. |
In a world experiencing serious water shortages for meeting …
Are biofuels truly sustainable? Explore biofuel sustainability in regards to the environment, economy, energy, and farming livelihood.
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Soybean biodiesel fuel. Photo: Leandro Maranghetti Lourenço, Brazil; Wikimedia Commons. |
Major Questions about the Sustainability of Biofuels
Learn approaches to help promote biodiversity on the farm while growing biofuel feedstocks.
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Corn and soy fields in Minnesota. Photo: US EPA and National Archive and Record Administration; Wikimedia Commons. |
Biodiversity is the variation of life at all levels, from genes to organisms to populations. Healthy ecosystems tend to have greater biodiversity.
Most biofuel feedstocks come from agricultural crops grown in highly disturbed ecosystems with relatively …
There are several benefits to using grasses, such as switchgrass and miscanthus, as biofuel feedstocks. They grow on marginal lands, prevent soil erosion better than row crops, and require fewer inputs. Read below about the advantages and drawbacks of grass crops.
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| Farmers use traditional farm equipment to grow and harvest switchgrass. Photo: Dennis Pennington, Bioenergy Educator, Michigan State University. |
Grasses are …
Can we reduce greenhouse gases with biofuels? Explore biofuels, the carbon cycle and potential impacts.
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Palm oil plantation, in Indonesia. Photo: Achmad Rabin Taim; Wikimedia Commons. |
From the standpoint of human-released carbon dioxide, other greenhouse gas emissions, and contributions to climate change biofuels have one large advantage over gasoline, diesel and other fossil fuels: The feedstocks for biofuels …
Does biodiesel production impact food supplies? Learn about the “fuel versus food” debate, examine scenarios showing impacts and factors considered by scientists trying to unravel this complex question.
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| Harvesting soybeans in Nebraska. Photo: F. John Hay, Extension Educator, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. |
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Cotton harvest. Photo: Kimberly Vardeman; Wikimedia Commons. |
Learn how GMO’s are used in bioenergy systems, and why they are controversial in the sustainability debate.
Genetic engineering is being used and tested in virtually every aspect of bioenergy production, including crops, bacteria, yeasts, and catalysts. For example, researchers are trying to genetically engineer plants that grow faster, have high sugar or starch content, contain more cellulose …
