Tweak, Adapt, or Transform: Policy Scenarios in Response to Emerging Bioenergy Markets in the U.S. Corn Belt

Lisa A. Schulte,Ryan C. Atwell,Lynne M. Westphal

doi:10.5751/es-03854-160110

Abstract

Atwell, R. C., L. A. Schulte, and L. M. Westphal. 2011. Tweak, adapt, or transform: policy scenarios in response to emerging bioenergy markets in U.S. corn belt. Ecology and Society 16(1): 10. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-03854-160110

Highlights

Bioenergy crops have been heralded as an environmentally beneficial alternative to global consumption of fossil fuel (Ragauskas et al 2006)
Mounting research shows that the devil may be in the details; long-term sustainability of bioenergy production will be determined by interactions among ecological, social, and economic factors that are unique to particular bioregions, cultures, and economies (Jordan et al 2007, Field et al 2008, Robertson et al 2008, Porter et al 2009)
Our research objectives address the biophysical scale of the U.S Corn Belt agroecoregion, we focused the policy workshop and resulting analyses on the state of Iowa (Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

Bioenergy crops have been heralded as an environmentally beneficial alternative to global consumption of fossil fuel (Ragauskas et al 2006). Mounting research shows that the devil may be in the details; long-term sustainability of bioenergy production will be determined by interactions among ecological, social, and economic factors that are unique to particular bioregions, cultures, and economies (Jordan et al 2007, Field et al 2008, Robertson et al 2008, Porter et al 2009). The U.S Corn Belt is one well-studied agroecosystem that illustrates the complex potential impact of bioenergy markets on natural resources, and Corn Belt stakeholders have expressed concern about how the rapid development of these markets will impact regional social, economic, and environmental sustainability (Hinkamp et al 2007). The export of agricultural nutrients, i.e., nitrogen and phosphorous, associated with row crops to Corn Belt river systems is a key driver of downstream hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico (US EPA 2007)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion