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Fields and refineriesLaveesh Bhandari Posted online: Monday , Feb 04, 2008 at 0003 hrs

A fascinating and troubling story is unfolding in the energy sector. The five-fold rise in petroleum prices in

as many years is creating incentives for the emergence of many new commercially feasible non-

petroleum energy sources. Hence, nuclear power has become more profitable, solar and wind power

have become financially sustainable, and the development of many other experimental technologies has

accelerated. Geo-thermal power is one such example. And most importantly, bio-fuels have gathered

momentum.

Currently the most common bio-fuels are derived from corn, sugarcane, wood (for example, jatropha),

and palm oil; of course great potential exists in deriving them from other agri-products as well, it is only a

matter of time when many other items are brought into the bio-fuel set.

It is said that bio-fuels have great benefits vis-a-vis petroleum based fuels. For one, most transportation is

based on the internal combustion engine that requires clean burning fuels in the liquid form and havinghigh energy density. Many bio-fuels meet these criteria, and many others currently under development

eventually will. Second, bio-fuels are renewable unlike petroleum, coal and even nuclear fuel. Third, in the

process of plant growth carbon gets absorbed, hence the carbon release at the combustion stage is

countered by the carbon absorption in the plant growth stage. The net result, at least theoretically, is zero

net carbon emission and therefore reduced global warming. Fourth, bio-fuels being agriculture derived

output have tremendously higher employment potential than petroleum based fuel. Thus bio-fuel could

lead to increased equity and reduced poverty. Fifth, since we can produce our own fuel, this would also

contribute to reduced energy dependency for India.

Not surprisingly many countries have taken a pro-active stance where growth of bio-fuels are concerned.The US has tended to focus on ethanol derived from corn; Brazil is largely focusing on sugarcane. India

has taken the jatropha route combined with sugarcane. And still others are concentrating on palm oil and

vegetable oil based fuels. The character of the fuel differs depending upon the fuel used. Sugarcane and

corn, for instance, yield bio-ethanol whereas jatropha and palm yield bio-diesel. But these are the details,

and this is not where the devil hides.

Let us first take the case of corn. Corn is conventionally used both for human consumption and an

important component of feed for livestock. As petroleum has become more expensive it has become

more profitable to mix bio-ethanol derived from corn with petroleum products. But in the process less is

available for both humans and livestock. The net result has been increased prices of corn tortillas in

Mexico and overall upward movement of food products.

Similar issues have either already emerged, or will emerge, in the case of other bio-fuels that have a dual

use as food consumption for man or animal. The point is that there is a direct impact on food availability

and therefore prices in a range of food products.

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But there are also indirect impacts. As a biofuel becomes more profitable, even if it has no other use, it

will impact food prices. Take the case of jatropha something that our policymakers and corporate

houses have taken a great liking to. Jatropha does not require too much water and is ideal for cultivation

in our wastelands. In theory, therefore, jatropha cultivation would not take away from our foodcrop

production and will only create additional income and employment opportunities. So far so good.

But that is not how markets work. As jatropha becomes profitable even farmers otherwise growing other

cereals will grow jatropha and, if reports are to be believed, have already started to. Moreover, since

productivity levels of cereals and many food crops are quite low, the farmer is much more likely to shift to

other avenues. So this is another type of an impact on food availability.

There is yet another. It so happens that a large part of our cattle graze in the wastelands, and cattle-

owners rarely pay for this facility. Jatropha has leaves that are not exactly palatable for cattle. As jatropha

spreads, the land available for grazing gets limited. This in turn impacts the cost of milk production.

Currently the rise in milk prices is not due to jatropha, but when jatropha claims a significant enough

coverage of land, there will be an impact.

In other words, it will be impossible to limit the spread of bio-fuels once the market emerges. And since

energy is expensive, cultivation will be driven more by energy prices and less by food. The impact on food

availability and prices therefore is bound to be significant.

But if bio-fuels are generally beneficial for producers and the environment, should we not favour their

growth? The answer is yes, but with qualifications. For one, the environmental impact of biofuels is not

unambiguously positive. Researchers have found increased nitrogen oxide emissions, positive carbon

emissions as well as other impacts on the environment. Two, if food prices were to rise, the poor will be

impacted the most, so increased bio-fuel use need not be more equitable or poverty-reducing.

So what is the solution? There are three aspects, and the solutions are all related to policy support for

new technology usage. First, we need to increase general productivity levels in agriculture and food crops

in particular. This will ensure that farmers earn more and consumers pay less. Second, we need to

continuously look for other sources of energy that do not require combustion solar, nuclear, wind and

perhaps geo-thermal appear to be the only scalable and sustainable sources in the long run. Third, bio-

fuels can also be gotten from cellulose and algae these sources will have far lower consequences on

food availability.

Of the above the last two developments are some years away. It is increased productivity that is the most

achievable. The technology exists, the seeds exist, the inputs exist, the markets exist, the ability exists; all

we need to do is put them together. India has enough land to service the requirements of both the sectors

food and energy significantly. But it somehow is just not willing to invest in its farmers and their

farms.