Biofuels and biodiversity: principles for creating better policies for biofuel production

GROOM, MARTHA J.; GRAY, ELIZABETH M.; TOWNSEND, PATRICIA A.

doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2007.00879.x

Cited by 418Bioenergy crop production and managementBioeconomy and Sustainability DevelopmentBiofuel production and bioconversion

Biofuels and biodiversity: principles for creating better policies for biofuel production

GROOM, MARTHA J., GRAY, ELIZABETH M., TOWNSEND, PATRICIA A.·2008·Conservation Biology

DOI 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2007.00879.x

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Abstract

Abstract: Biofuels are a new priority in efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels; nevertheless, the rapid increase in production of biofuel feedstock may threaten biodiversity. There are general principles that should be used in developing guidelines for certifying biodiversity‐friendly biofuels. First, biofuel feedstocks should be grown with environmentally safe and biodiversity‐friendly agricultural practices. The sustainability of any biofuel feedstock depends on good growing practices and sound environmental practices throughout the fuel‐production life cycle. Second, the ecological footprint of a biofuel, in terms of the land area needed to grow sufficient quantities of the feedstock, should be minimized. The best alternatives appear to be fuels of the future, especially fuels derived from microalgae. Third, biofuels that can sequester carbon or that have a negative or zero carbon balance when viewed over the entire production life cycle should be given high priority. Corn‐based ethanol is the worst among the alternatives that are available at present, although this is the biofuel that is most advanced for commercial production in the United States. We urge aggressive pursuit of alternatives to corn as a biofuel feedstock. Conservation biologists can significantly broaden and deepen efforts to develop sustainable fuels by playing active roles in pursuing research on biodiversity‐friendly biofuel production practices and by helping define biodiversity‐friendly biofuel certification standards.

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Authors: GROOM, M. J., GRAY, E. M., & TOWNSEND, P. A.
Affiliations: University of Washington Bothell (US)
The Nature Conservancy (US)
University of Washington (US)
ORCID: GROOM, MARTHA J.
Venue: Conservation Biology
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2008-06
Volume: 22
Issue: 3
Pages: 602-609
ISSN: 0888-8892 (ISSN-L)
1523-1739
DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2007.00879.x
OpenAlex: W2037180230
Semantic Scholar: 6f09757207d50463d4e07bcc5b67b2001c9ff682
Cited by: 418
References: 35
Citations by year: 2026: 6 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 38 · 2013: 48 · 2012: 37
FWCI: 66.84
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 27 d)
Locations: Conservation Biology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Bioenergy crop production and management
Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › General Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Bioeconomy and Sustainability Development
Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Biofuel production and bioconversion
Keywords: biofuels, biodiversity, biofuel feedstock, biofuel policy, biofuel certification, ecological footprint, microalgal biofuels, carbon sequestration, corn ethanol, sustainable agriculture, fossil fuel dependence
MeSH terms: Agriculture, Bioelectric Energy Sources, Carbon, Conservation of Energy Resources, Environmental Pollutants, Environmental Pollution, Plants, Public Policy, Research, Ecosystem, Biodiversity

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Biofuels and biodiversity: principles for creating better policies for biofuel production

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