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world production of ethanol, accounting fuels could both increase local energy ef
for 80–90%. As for biodiesel, the EU ficiency, decrease health risks and pressure
accounts for 75% of the total production. on forests. In Mali, a community program
has developed small scale jatropha plan
tations that provide not only liquid fuels
By replacing wood, biofuels can con Do biofuels cause less CO2 but also electricity, heat and mechanical
tribute to lessen the work burden for
women and reducing the pressure on emissions? power for a variety of local uses. Small-
nearby forests. On this photo, women The actual GHG (green house gas) savings holders could also increase their incomes
in Ribaue district, Mozambique.
compared to fossil fuel are highly variable as biofuel crops become cash crops, but
and depend on type of feedstock, degree markets should be accessible, and me
of mechanization, the extent of fertilizer chanisms in place to ensure that price
use as well as earlier land use and indirect increases accrue farmers.
Box 2 effects of land use change.
Ethanol production in Trade Whether biofuel production
Brazil – lessons learnt Estimations of GHG savings of biofuel gives opportunity for export depends on
Brazilian sugar cane is the most compared to fossil fuels vary. LCA (life the local context and the various subsidy
energy efficient crop for biofuels cycle analysis), which includes the produc schemes (Figure 1). “Opportunities for
today, due to a highly efficient tion cycle, is usually an underestimate sin developing countries to take advantage of
production process, suitable gro ce it often excludes emissions from direct biofuel demand would be greatly ad
wing conditions, manual labour
and active government policy and and indirect land use changes (see Box 3). vanced by the removal of the agricultural
subsidies since the 1970’s. Sugarcane ethanol has the highest savings and biofuel subsidies and trade barri
Outgrower schemes have suc
(85–95%), followed by rapeseed biodiesel ers that create an artificial market and
ceeded in ensuring that 30–35% (20–50%), and maize ethanol (40%) which currently benefit producers in OECD
of sugarcane in Brazil is produ primarily uses coal in the production pro countries at the expense of producers in
ced by small scale farmers. The cess1. GHG savings can even be negative developing countries” (FAO-Diouf 2008).
ethanol production has created
as in the case of palm oil, due to deforesta
around 1 million employment
opportunities, but depends on tion and peatland conversion. Challenges
the degree of mechanization. It
has reduced dependency on oil Socio-economic challenges
imports and exposure to volatile
Potential
Food prices Estimates of the role of
international prices. Poverty reduction Availability of energy
biofuels in the hike of food prices during
The large scale monoculture pro is fundamental to intensifying agriculture,
2008 have been much debated. It is
duction system has exacerbated industrial development and pro-poor
land owner concentration. This
estimated that 30% (International Food
growth. Locally produced liquid biofuels,
has caused displacement and Policy Research Institute) to 65% (World
e.g. biodiesel, could lead to national and
increased competition for land, Bank) of the increase in food prices can
increasing the risk for conflict local benefits such as reduced pressure on
be attributed to the increased production
and preventing pro-poor land forests, reduced dependency on oil imports
of biofuels instead of food.
reform. and limited exposure to volatile international
The working conditions are often prices. However, large scale production for
Tenure and Conflicts Large scale
critical with low salaries and little export is not as likely to have these effects.
or no access to health care. The
biofuel production often competes with
plantations are often burned other land and water uses. Power imba
Employment Biofuel could offer
prior to harvesting which results lances make it difficult for local commu
in health risks for plantation beneficial employment opportunities,
nities to negotiate sufficient compensa
workers. provided Corporate Social Responsibility
tion for e.g. lost land, especially if they
This production system can hold no formally recognized tenure rights.
cause dramatic indirect effects 1 World Watch Inst. 2007 ’Biofuels for
Transport’ Indigenous communities and women are
(see Box 3).
2 Biox Group using EU Calculation Tool particularly vulnerable.
Strategic national choices on biofuel development: a decision tree
Identify clear set of policy goals
Energy Rural Export Climate change
security? development? development? mitigation?
Environmental analysis
Is it possible to assure environmental protection is part of biofuel
production and use?
Look at issues such as land and water use, soil and
Yes Not sure water impacts, and greenhouse gas emissions
Social analysis
Is it possible to assure positive social outcomes through biofuel
production and use?
Look at issues such as large-scale vs small-scale
Yes Not sure production, land rights and labour conditions
Economic analysis
Are biofuels the most cost-effective means of achieving the desired
policy goals?
Look at costs relative to, for example, other energy
Yes Not sure sources, other ways of promoting rural development
Soil and Water Many biofuel crops are store millions of tons of carbon which is
highly water intensive. Crops like sweet released when they are exploited. De
sorghum, tropical sugar beet and jatropha forestation is in turn a major threat to
can grow on drier soils, but may require biodiversity, local communities and indi
irrigation and fertilisers to become com genous groups dependant on biodiversity Oil palm plantation in Malaysia.
Box 4
production systems (scale, crops, sites,
Assessment tools processing) are responsible and adapted
Many organisations and governments,
including EU, are currently developing
to local needs, capacity and gender roles.
sustainability standards and criteria for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
biofuel production. One example is the is one of the tools recommended by the
Roundtable for Sustainable Biofuels, RSB. Paris Declaration (see Box 4).
SEA, Strategic Environmental Assessment,
is a tool that can help ensure that policies, Policy and institutional weaknesses
plans and programs are environmentally,
The successful promotion and sustainable
CBM
GHG emissions.
Reference websites:
http://www.fao.org/bioenergy SWEDISH
http://www.oxfam.org
http://www.worldwatch.org BIODIVERSITY
Jatropha produced in small scale by a local farmers’
association in Mecuburi district, Mozambique.
http://www.acts.or.ke C E N T R E