"Renewable fuels got a "bit ahead of themselves in the public eye in 2008 when gasoline was over $4 a gallon and the race to biofuels was on," said Chris Kraft, president of Nashville, Tenn.-based CKFutures.com. "High fossil fuels lead to high demand for ethanol, which lead to historically high grain prices, which made ethanol as expensive as gasoline." <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />


"this year, 12.95 billion gallons of renewable fuels are mandated to be used in fuels sold in the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />U.S., up from 11.1 billion gallons in 2009,"

While that mandated demand will not be satisfied exclusively by ethanol, "demand for ethanol will continue to rise with the mandate, which runs to 2022," he said.

Corn for use in ethanol production has already increased nearly fivefold from the year 2000 to 3.6 billion bushels in 2008, according to the National Corn Growers Association, which used preliminary data for 2008".


World has over 800 million ha of wasteland , unproductive land, climatic conditions not supporting productivity beyond 0.1 to 0.3 tonnes ( 100 to 300 kg per ha of coarse rainfed crop)

With water resources becoming scarcer for  even drinking water, luxury of raising crop plants for ethanol could only be enjoyed in countries with high technology and resources of land and water not limited by ever increasing pressure of population. Developed countries are an example.

 

However it will be too dangerous to emulate USA by others and start producing ethanol from corn

as their land areas are limited.

What is the alternative.

I have been propagating the idea of late Professor Calvin that grow plants of wasteland for obtaining the biofuel. The plants which already exist in the area of interest or native to the region.

Give scientists their due in devicing policies I mean to say take decisions based on science and present day technology available and dont start running after one plant as it is happening after Jatropha globally .

My three tier system rests on choice of trees, shrubs, and herbs for biomass and biofuel and still chance to raise rainfed crops in between because the land holdings in developing world are dwindling and its impossible to explain to people from developed world that its vague idea to start cultivation of Jatropha in 40,000 ha at once or on waste land allotted by Government for growing Jatropha without going into detailed workout on its success. But who cares . Policies of the Governmants are decided by those who cant do things themselves and those who can do things themselves have no say in things which are being done.

its time to sit back and pool our resources and come out with global solutions and understanding and not start running after one idea.
My father used to tell me what is good for Peter may not be good for Paul. Paul has to find his own way for himself and Peter cant find the way for Paul. Now the time has come when Paul will have to not only find his way but to move on it alone to survive.