Bioenergy - Adequate Food for All - page 280

resources tend to be. The challenge then is to efficiently and sustainably collect this
energy such that it can be concentrated and economically used.
When establishing energy policy, it is important to consider the production and
use of energy as part of human involvement in the global system, a system that
includes the global climate and its stability as well as the production, distribution,
availability, and cost of food. The short-term implications of policy actions must be
considered, but the long-term effects on sustainability are critical to the continued
welfare of the earth's inhabitants and to survival of humans on the earth. At this
time, it is not yet certain what the correct energy system will be. What is important
is to have the debate and move forward with a rational plan. Global effects must be
considered in that the actions of anyone have implications for everyone.
The consequences of not dealing with the collateral damage of fossil fuel use are
significant enough to seriously consider alternatives. However, that concern has not
yet become sufficient to create a sense of urgency.
Solving the energy problem and avoiding the associated collateral damage requires
policy action, but that will not happen without a sense of urgency. Both technology
development and policy action are necessary to avoid an energy crisis and to ensure
that individual nations and the world move forward on an appropriate path toward a
sustainable energy future, a future that holds great promise for agriculture, for rural
economies, and for the world.
RefeRences
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Risk of Future Invasions . CAST Commentary QTA 2007-1. Ames, IA: CAST. (http://
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Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). 2007b. Convergence of Agriculture
and Energy: II. Producing Cellulosic Biomass for Biofuels . CAST Commentary
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Farrell, A.E., R.J. Plevin, B.T. Turner, A.D. Jones, M. O'Hare, and D.M. Kammen. 2006.
Ethanol can contribute to energy and environmental goals. Science 311:506-508.
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