Two pieces providing much more substance than the now-normal superficial news story, on optimizing resources allocated to biofuels and food supply.

The first report urges governments to initiate an orderly, "innovation-enhancing" transition towards incentives targeted on multi-dimensional goals for biofuels development.  These goals should include poverty alleviation, reducing net greenhouse gas emissions, increasing use of non-food feedstocks, attaining sustainable biofuel production targets and conserving biodiversity.  http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/07/researchers-sug.html Link at end of the page.

The second is an economic analysis arguing that biofuels are here to stay, even without government subsidy, if oil prices remain above $100 per barrel.  The author provides a wide range of scenarios for policies and renewable fuels standards.  Graphical presentation helps non-economists to visualize the possibilities.  This is a copyrighted article, so go to your library's e-journals for a copy.  Tyner, W.E.  2008.  The US ethanol and biofuels boom: its origins, current status, and future prospects.  BioScience July/August 2008, Vol 58(7):646-653.


Dr. Stephen R. Humphrey, Director of Academic Programs,
School of Natural Resources and Environment,
Box 116455, 103 Black Hall, University of Florida
Gainesville, FL  32611-6455  USA
Tel. 352-392-9230, Fax 352-392-9748
http://snre.ufl.edu<http://snre.ufl.edu/>