Earlier this month, we mentioned a study from the journal Science that said increased production of biofuels would increase greenhouse gas emissions due to the conversion of more land to crop production. The study continues to get coverage, but now two researchers from the Department of Energy "found fault with a number of assumptions in the study, including about how land is currently being used and how much crop yields may increase in coming years," reports Philip Brasher of the Des Moines Register.
Michael Wang of the Argonne National Laboratory and Zia Haq of the Energy Department's biomass program office wrote a letter to Science detailing their criticisms. "At this time, it is not clear what land-use changes could occur globally as a result of U.S. corn ethanol production," they wrote. (Read more)
Most recent studies on biofuel production have touted using waste products such as corn stover to make biofuels, but a recent poll suggested Iowa farmers are hesitant to do so. Iowa State University's 2007 Survey Report on Iowa Farmers' Views on the Bioeconomy found that while 79 percent of farmers surveyed though ethanol production could help rural areas, almost as many had concerns about the economic impact of using corn stover or bringing marginal land into production. "Reactions to the prospective removal of corn stover for ethanol production were negative on the whole, with 75 percent of farmers in agreement that doing so would increase soil erosion," according to the report. "Likewise, 77 percent of farmers agreed that bringing marginal land into grain production—a distinct possibility if ethanol-induced price increases are maintained—would reduce wildlife habitat."
For other parts of the Iowa Farm and Rural Life poll, go here.
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