Food for Fuel, is Algae a Better Answer? - 1/4/08

Hobert Pruitt
Beyond Fossil Fuel Columnist

There is great concern how the doubling in the cost of some commodities like wheat and corn are caused by the demand for biofuels like biodiesel and ethanol.  World wide drought and tremendous demand from China and India are the other causes of increase food prices.  Is the demand for biofuels increasing price of food?  The answer is yes, food for energy is causing part of the increase in food prices.  Some believe this is causing "Peak Food".  Like "Peak Oil", are we not able to produce enough food for the demand from people, animals and fuel?  More information on "Peak Food"

There is also the increase cost of petroleum that causes price increases in everything.  Go to this link for more information. http://www.beyondfossilfuel.com/ethanol/food_oil_122807.html

Some are concerned land once used for human food production is now being converted to produce ethanol and biodiesel.  The Congress' recent energy bill demands for increasing domestic biofuel production by 36 billion gallons, by 2022.  Some believe we do not have enough farm land to meet that demand.  Not to mention we need to feed people too!   

The answer for biofuel may lye in our oceans. 

Some believe one of the better sources for the production of biofuel is algae, giving 15 times the yield of grape seed.  70% of our planet is water which is not used to produce food for people.  Researcher John Munford says an algae farm the size of the North Sea could produce enough fuel to replace all the fossil fuels the world uses today!  But is it economically feasible. 

Shell Oil has partnered with HR Biopetroleum calling the joint venture Cellana.  The goal of the site is to research which natural microalgae species produce the highest yields for diesel type biofuel.  For more information go to this link http://www.beyondfossilfuel.com/biodiesel/shell_algae_010308.html

Virgin Fuels is working with Boeing which believes the best prospect for aviation fuel derived from algae.  Boeing’s Dave Daggett estimates algae ponds the size of 34,000 sq km could produce enough fuel to reduce the net CO2 footprint for all aviation to zero!

Let’s hope algae is the answer.

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