Scientists at Aberystwyth University have attempted to address the challenges presented by increased interest in using land for new energy crops, principally the potential reduction in food production this would bring. Based at IBERS (the Institute for Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences) the scientists claimed investment in dedicated new generation energy crops can make the best use of limited resources.

They argued that, while food is one of the basic needs of life, civilisation also requires energy and the decline of fossil fuels has led to increased interest in bioenergy, which has led to proposals to use agricultural land to grow both food and fuel.

In a new review, published in Global Change Biology, bioenergy scientists from Aberystwyth University and The University of Aberdeen explored the advantages of bioenergy and how competition for land can be minimised.

Dr John Valentine from IBERS Aberystwyth University said, “The development of bioenergy could represent a huge shift in agricultural development which helps to stimulate rural and urban development. However, it is vitally important that bioenergy does not jeopardise food production.”

He laid out the scientists’ contentions, “Our research sets out a vision for bioenergy in terms of four major gains for society: a reduction in carbon emissions by replacing fossil fuels with appropriate crops for energy generation; a significant contribution to energy security by reductions in fossil fuel dependence; rural and urban economic development, and reduced dependence of global agriculture on fossil fuels.” image expired

The team investigated the interplay between factors such as food requirements, the economics of energy crops on less favourable land, gains in productivity of crop and animal production, the effects of reducing meat production, and the economic value of bioenergy production in terms of its value for energy and the value of carbon emissions saved. Dr Valentine also recommended “reducing food waste and reducing consumption of red meat from grain-fed systems.”

They proposed using ‘next generation’ perennial energy crops, such as the giant grass Miscanthus. These energy crops do not require large amounts of agrochemical input, to save land; the researchers claimed these crops would avoid the destruction of native forests and minimise competition with primary food production, rather than with inefficient first-generation grain, tuber and oilseed crops.

Professor Pete Smith of the University of Aberdeen concluded, “We need to invest heavily in food and energy if the needs of a world population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050 at a time of climate change are to be met. Land is a finite resource which we must use wisely. As Mark Twain neatly put it: ‘Buy land. They’re not making it anymore.”

Principal questions of bioenergy remain unanswered

However, many environmentalists disagree with aspects of the findings, although ‘next generation’ bioenergy crops may have less of an impact on the environment than first generation fuels including corn, palm and rapeseed, their contribution to atmospheric pollution can be just as bad as fossil fuels’. The crops may take up as much carbon while growing as they release when burned, but factoring in transportation, harvesting and other costs, they still have a negative carbon footprint.

Environmental commentator and journalist George Monbiot has said, “Burning biofuels in cars is mad enough, as it causes more environmental destruction – in terms of both carbon emissions and the loss of habitats – than petroleum... Burning biofuels in power stations is environmental vandalism on a staggering scale.”

Nevertheless, exponents of ‘next generation’ biofuels like Miscanthus claim it will reduce greenhouse emissions, largely as a result of carbon sequestration and reduced need for agrochemical inputs.