The Downside to Corn-Based Biofuels


In 2007, a record number of farmers switched to growing corn, anticipating heavy, price-increasing demand for corn-based biofuels.

But if everyone's growing corn... what about food crops? The International Food Policy Research Institute is saying that unless farm productivity (or biofuel efficiency) is improved, food prices could rise as much as 40 to 80 percent. (With good management, they estimate that the rise could be between five and 15 percent.)

Which leaves us with quite a dilemma: eat a lot, or drive a lot?

It's not to say that we should give up on ethanol as an alternative fuel, but maybe we shouldn't rush in. Arguments against corn note that it's particularly tough on the soil, requiring heavy use of chemical fertilizers to maintain soil viability. It also requires lots of water (already a hotly contested agricultural commodity), and massive monocultures (endless fields of corn) have been shown to be less-than-ideal for soil and local ecosystem health.

More reason to continue to research other petroleum alternatives...

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