Biofuels, Food Security, and Accompanying Environmental Concerns

Dear Colleagues,

With governmental commitments to diversifying energy sources, raising crops for biofuels has been an important component of the agricultural production.  Various governmental laws and regulations have provided incentives to producers, processors, and buyers of biofuel.  These incentives have led producers to alter their production practices with corresponding effects on the resources and the environment.  More recently, advanced biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol have been differentiated so their production and use might receive further encouragement.  Due to a number of inherent limitations on first- and second-generation biofuels, increased attention is being given to the production of third-generation biofuels.

Governmental policies concerning biofuels are affecting food supplies, water resources, changes in land use, sustainability, ecosystem services, and the loss of rain forests.  Accompanying large scale production of biofuels are concerns about international agricultural commodity trade, climate change, and environmental quality.  This issue will examine the conditions wrought by biofuel production as it relates to food security, the environment, and trade.

Prof. Terence J. Centner
Guest Editor