Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
AbstRAct
The way in which the world's population currently meets its energy needs is not
sustainable. Fossil petroleum, natural gas, and coal reserves currently relied on
are finite and nonrenewable, and their use has serious security, environmental,
and economic consequences. Therefore, it is critical to develop renewable and
sustainable alternative energy sources. Solar radiation is the only significant
renewable and sustainable source of energy for the earth. This energy can be
captured in plant material via photosynthesis and converted to liquid trans-
portation fuel alternatives for petroleum-based gasoline and diesel. However,
the resources required for producing biomass for energy are the same as those
required to produce biomass for food, and this poses a fuel-versus-food conflict.
Some feel the world's land and water resources are sufficient to meet energy
needs and also satisfy food and feed requirements. Others are concerned that
use of food crops and of agricultural resources for energy are causing food
shortages and starvation. It is critical that both energy and food be adequately
provided, and fortunately, the world has great capacity to meet both needs. The
challenge is to sustainably and efficiently manage that capacity, including agri-
cultural and forestry resources, to effectively meet human needs. Agriculture
has the potential to be a significant energy provider and in doing so bring vitality
to rural communities. For a successful bioenergy program to be implemented,
effective energy policy must be enacted, policy that encourages producers and
users of energy and food to make choices and take actions that are in the best
interest of humanity.
IntRoductIon
The world's population consumes a very large amount of energy, about 500 quadril-
lion BTU (Energy Information Administration [EIA], 2008) annually, and demand
is growing. Energy is needed for heat, power, electricity, and transportation fuel.
Currently, energy is supplied mainly from nonsustainable geologic hydrocarbon
sources. In addition to supplies being finite and nonrenewable, there are serious secu-
rity, environmental, and economic concerns with continued reliance on fossil energy.
Bioenergy is a potentially sustainable carbohydrate alternative that has been used
throughout human existence and in some locations continues to be the predominant
energy source. Biomass currently accounts for about 15% of energy used worldwide
and about 3% of energy currently used in the United States. For bioenergy to become
a major sustainable source of energy, an expanded energy-from-agriculture infra-
structure must be developed. This will require agriculture to undergo significant
changes, changes that will have an impact on agriculture and everything associated
with agriculture, including food and its availability and cost. An efficient bioenergy
infrastructure must be developed such that sustainable, renewable energy is maxi-
mized while negative impacts on food, feed, fiber, the environment, ecosystems, and
the economy are minimized.
