[Terrapreta] new studies on GHG footprint of biofuels darkens the picture

[Tom Miles]

And everybody ignores soil fertility which is probably the greatest benefit
of biochar. We're still mining the soil rather than rebuilding it. We should
at least offset carbon losses through carbon sequestration and recharge the
nutrient bank.  

 

Tom

 

 

From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org
[mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Michael Bailes
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 6:06 PM
To: Terra Preta
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] new studies on GHG footprint of biofuels darkens
the picture

 

Funny I just finished commenting on these (? or similar)articles in New
Scientist
http://environment.newscientist.com/article/dn13289-biofuels-emissions-may-b
e-worse-than-petrol.html

1. usually all that is looked at for biofuel is USA  subsidised Corn
It is not the best plant or model for biofuels
2.There is great capacity in places like Queensland cane farming areas to
expand (unsubsidised) sugar cane production without any land clearing
3. Waste streams of many kinds can be made into biofuel.
4 Many crops can be grown on marginal or salt affected land for biofuel.
5. One plant "gopher weed" literally grows oil. Some old research I looked
at said it becomes viable when oil is about 465 a barrel.
6 alage show great promise for use as abiofuel especially where land is at
apremium
7 At the moment struggling Australians' farms are being snapped up at record
prices by Agri-business-multi-nationals. Why do you think?
More on plants for biofuel here
http://forums.hypography.com/terra-preta/11716-what-plants-might-grown-just-
bio-6.html#post205944



On 08/02/2008, jim mason <jimmason at whatiamupto.com> wrote:

a nyt article just came up referencing some new studies published
today on GHG footprint of common biofuels.

the new studies apparently take more seriously and try to quantify the
GHG effects that follow from land use changes wrought by the new
biofuel market.  they conclude that when indirect land use changes are
taken into account, biofuels have a worse GHG footprint than petroleum
derived fuels.   granted, all this is working with ethanol and
b


-- 
Michael the Archangel

"You can fix all the world's problems in a garden. . . . 
Most people don't know that"
FROM
http://www.blog.thesietch.org/wp-content/permaculture.swf 

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