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May 10, 2007
Launch of The Bioeconomy Blog
I am please to inform you of the formal launch of "The Bioeconomy
Blog"
http://bioeconomyblog.blogspot.com
is a devoted to the promotion of all key literature relating to
biorenewable fuels, most notably bioethanol and biodiesel. It will focus
on the economic, environmental, political, and social aspects of
bioeconomy initiatives. The Bioeconomy Blog is a companion to the
Biorenewable Blog, which is devoted to the technical aspects and
technologies associated with production.
The first posting is most appropriate for the launch of "The Bioeconomy
Blog" is:
Dennis Keeney: Ethanol's Power Politics
Dennis Keeney, Senior Fellow at Institute for Agriculture and Trade
Policy, and former director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable
Agriculture is interviewed by Ben Kieffer, host of The Exchange on Iowa
Public Radio (May 5 2007).
From Abstract for a related presentation given at ISU in February
Ethanol production using corn grain has exploded in the Upper Midwest.
This has caught many planners unawares. Issues such as the availability
of grain, transportation infrastructure, effect on other uses of grain
such as poultry and swine, and even the ability to meet export contracts
are being questioned. Short term outcomes of the biofuels policies
include rapidly expanding acreage of corn at the expense of soybean and
conservation reserve land and added stress on the region*s land and
water resources.
Lost until recently in the whirlwind has been the potential impact of
ethanol plants on natural resources, including water availability, water
quality, biodiversity and farm structure. Each gallon of ethanol
involves the loss of about 20 pounds of soil. Use of nitrogen fertilizer
will increase as more land is put into corn, and if CRP is taken out of
contract for more corn, loss of biodiversity will surely follow.
Ethanol production has the potential for economic and social upheavals
as well.
A FeedBurner (and Blogger Atom) feed is available for "The Bioeconomy
Blog" at
[ http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/TheBioeconomyBlog ]
Enjoy!
Posted to useful information by jez at May 10, 2007 09:50 AM