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Isaac N. Bartlett

Mrs. Blattman

Biology 1010

8 January 2020

Biofuels: Solution or Problem?

Biofuels are liquid, gas, or solid fuels, created from biomass. Any biomass can be used to

create the fuel, but plants like corn or soybeans are grown specifically for conversion to biofuel.

This fact brings up several points of contention. Since food products like corn are being used for

fuel, some argue that this reduces the amount of staple food grains in developing areas and could

cause a food crisis. The main draw to biofuels is that they’re an alternative to fossil fuels and

don’t produce as much greenhouse gas when burned; however, some have noted that the

production of biofuel and biomass can create large amounts of greenhouse gasses.

The first view of Biofuels is a positive one. Biofuels provide a very real substitute for

fossil fuels. Since they’re made of plant material, they are easily renewable, unlike fossil fuels.

In addition this, burning Biofuels reportedly produced significantly less greenhouse gasses than

when burning traditional fossil fuels, making them more environmentally friendly. Also the

grains and plants used to create biofuel can trap carbon dioxide in the air, further reducing their

negative environmental impact. These two factors make biofuel a very attractive alternative to

fossil fuels, and some believe that they may be a step to solving the world’s energy problem.

On the other side of the coin, several people dismiss biofuels as a viable option, citing

several problems with biofuels and an alternative energy source. One such problems would be

the possibility of worsening the world food crisis. A large majority of biofuels are made using

staple crops such as corn or soybeans, which are commonly used as a food source. The worry is
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that the production of biofuels would use up valuable food that could have been used to feed

starving people. Another potential effect of adopting widespread use of biofuels would be an

increase in the price of grain and other foods. The need for biomass to create fuel would reduce

the amount of grain available to the public and drive prices up almost 30%. Even though biofuels

themselves produce less greenhouse gasses than other fuels, the production of biofuel can

produce quantities of carbon dioxide through the clearing of fields to plant sources of biomass

and the process of harvesting and creating the fuel also releases some amount of carbon dioxide.

Taking this into account, while biofuels may typically have less of an impact on the environment

than fossil fuels, their environmental friendliness is far less than initially estimated.

Another point of criticism of biofuels as an alternative energy source is the amount of

energy it takes to create the fuel vs. the energy the fuel can generate. Presently the ratio of energy

into power out is highly inefficient. The amount of energy it takes to grow, fertilize, and harvest

the biomass to create the fuel compared to the energy the fuel produces is a topic of debate.

Some studies have found that the fuel produces more than what is put in, however, others find

that it takes more energy to create than it produces.

In my opinion, biofuels seem to be potentially viable alternative to fossil fuels and

gasoline. However I think that measures need to be taken to prevent potential catastrophes, such

as increases in food prices and potential food shortages as a result of increased demand for

biomass. It would also be greatly beneficial if a more energy efficient and environmentally

friendly method of producing biomass were developed. Despite the potential drawbacks, I think

that biofuels could be a viable renewable energy option if the process was improved.
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Works Cited

Yacobucci, Brent D, and Randy Schnepf. “Ethanol and Biofuels: Agriculture, Infrastructure, and

Market Constraints Related to Expanded Production.” Congressional Research Service,

16 Mar. 2007, alternativeenergy.procon.org/sourcefiles/CRSreportEthanol2007.pdf.

“Is Biofuel Production a Major Cause of the World Food Crisis?” Can Alternative Energy

Effectively Replace Fossil Fuels?, ProCon.org,

alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001263.

“Will the Development of Biofuels, Such as Ethanol, Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions?” Can

Alternative Energy Effectively Replace Fossil Fuels?, ProCon.org,

alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001177.

“Does Ethanol Generate More Energy Than the Amount Needed to Produce It?” Can

Alternative Energy Effectively Replace Fossil Fuels?, ProCon.org,

alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001261.

“What Are Biofuels?” Can Alternative Energy Effectively Replace Fossil Fuels?,

ProCon.org, alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001176.

Ramos, Juan. “Biofuels Pros And Cons.” Science Trends, 2 Jan. 2020,

sciencetrends.com/biofuels-pros-cons-true-advantage-biomass-energy/.

Wasiak A. (2019) Energetic Efficiency of Biofuel Production. In: Modeling Energetic

Efficiency of Biofuels Production. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Cham