Use of US Croplands for Biofuels Increases Greenhouse Gases Through Emissions from Land Use Change
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Material Information

Title:
Use of US Croplands for Biofuels Increases Greenhouse Gases Through Emissions from Land Use Change
Series Title:
Science Magazine
Creator:
Timothy Searchinger
Ralph Heimlich
R.A. Houghton
Fengxia Dong
Amani Elobeid
Jacinto Fabiosa
Simla Tokgoz
Dermot Hayes
Tun-Hsiang Yu
Publication Date:
Language:
English

Notes

Abstract:
Most prior studies have found that substituting biofuels for gasoline will reduce greenhouse gases because biofuels sequester carbon through the growth of the feedstock. These analyses have failed to count the carbon emissions that occur as farmers worldwide respond to higher prices and convert forest and grassland to new cropland to replace the grain (or cropland) diverted to biofuels. Using a worldwide agricultural model to estimate emissions from land use change, we found that corn-based ethanol, instead of producing a 20% savings, nearly doubles greenhouse emissions over 30 years and increases greenhouse gases for 167 years. Biofuels from switchgrass, if grown on U.S. corn lands, increase emissions by 50%. This result raises concerns about large biofuelmandates and highlights the value of using waste products.

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Source Institution:
Florida International University
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