corn

Not all biofuels are created equal, as the chart above illustrates (click the image to see full size). It’s one of the best depictions I’ve seen of how each biofuel feedstock has completely different impacts on overall greenhouse gas emissions, water and pesticide use, and the energy required to produce the fuel.

Senator Grassley rebuts the argument that ethanol and corn farmers are to blame for rising food prices. He says increased oil prices play a role.

Washington-based outdoor company REI is using new biodegradable gift cards made by NatureWorks. The gift cards are made from PLA which is a corn-based bio-plastic.

Genetically modified crops are shown to lead to less herbicide runoff, but there are tradeoff's.

A fifth of the US corn crop is now used to brew ethanol for motor fuel, and as farmers have planted more corn, they have cut acreage of other crops, particularly soybeans. End result cooking oil shortage and wheat shortages.

"Mother Nature's Son," Sir Paul McCartney, recently expressed his disappointment with environmental NGOs for not putting greater emphasis on reducing meat consumption -- along with driving less and replacing standard light bulbs with CFLs -- as ways to fight climate change.

Oil prices and food prices are going to rise. The only choice we have is between two separate evils, not evil or no evil

Currently, the average price for a gallon of E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) is $2.67. That’s amazing if you think about it, since a gallon of ethanol requires about 16 lbs. of corn to produce.

Richard Lobb, Coalition for Balanced Food and Fuel Policy, is interviewed about a study that finds federal ethanol subsidies are contributing to rising food prices.

Despite intense debate surrounding the growing global food crises, the European Union today defended expanding the use of biofuels in all 27 member countries. Part of the EU’s climate change package, the current proposal sets a target of meeting 10% of transportation fuel with biofuels by 2020.

NPR’s Morning Addition briefly interviewed World Bank President Robert Zoellick last Friday concerning world food prices. Zoellick called it a “perfect storm of things coming together…” and listed 7 different issues contributing to the increasing cost of food, which led to rioting in Haiti and Egypt last week, along with a general strike in Burkina Faso.

Ever looked at the ingredients of most soft drinks?

Brookings, SD - Alternative fuel manufacturer VeraSun has completed its merger with US Bio Energy Corp. Under the terms of the deal, VeraSun officials indicate they are now set to become the largest ethanol producer in the United States.

The European Commission authorised on Friday a strain of genetically modified maize for import and processing but maintained a ban on its cultivation in the 27-nation bloc.

Bhadresh Gohil

A PennState researcher is working on developing corn varieties which more efficiently use nitrogen fertilizer.