Food Versus Fuel: An Informed Introduction to Biofuels
Of all the forms of alternative energy, none is so contentious as biofuels. More than a decade ago the possibility of filling the energy gap with fuels made from plants came charging onto our horizons full of bold promises. But the promises have not been fulfilled and this book in part aims to explore why. Within this collection is a lot of interesting information and as well as some strong opinions about why biofuels have failed to power either our imaginations or our lives.
It’s the media’s fault – for fuelling an uninformed debate. It’s the fault of environmentalists – for insisting on scrutinising biofuels to a degree that petroleum was never subjected to. It’s politicians fault for not making subsidies even more freely available. And if you are David Pimentel, the book’s strongest biofuels-cynic, it’s the fault of biofuels themselves for giving such a poor energy return over and above the energy required to produce them.
If the reader has followed the biofuels debate, the omissions – detailed examination of energy return, land use changes, environmental consequences and reducing consumption – are frustrating. Those new to the subject will find the essays don’t give much away easily or for free.
Biofuels are under excessive scrutiny because we can’t afford to get it wrong again. While this book is at times informative it can leave the reader feeling dissatisfied and even at times alarmed; for instance at the insinuation that the market could be left to sort out those pesky details that environmentalists and world hunger NGOs keep talking about. Really? When did that plan ever work?
Food versus Fuel: An Informed Introduction to Biofuels
Frank Rosillo-Calle and Francis X Johnson (Eds)
Zed Books
Paperback
£14.99
- This review appeared in Geographical Magazine circa April 2011.
