Food Versus Fuel Research Articles

Food Versus Fuel: An Updated and Expanded Evidence

This paper replicates and extends the study of Zhang et al. (2010): “Food versus fuel: What do prices tell us?” Energy Policy 38, pp. 445-451. We confirm the findings of the original paper that there was only a weak relationship between ethanol and food commodities in the period between March 1989 and July 2008. In addition, we extend that study and examine the cointegration relationship between biofuels and related commodities for a considerably enlarged dataset (3 vs. 1 market, 26 vs. 8 commodities, analysis up till 2017 vs. 2008, weekly vs. monthly data frequency). Focusing on the biofuel markets of Brazil, the EU and the USA in the three separate periods before, during, and after the food crisis of 2007 and 2008, we show that studying the time variation of the relationships plays an essential role in their proper understanding. Our results help to clarify the wide extensive discussion about the role of biofuels prices in food shortages manifested particularly during the food crises. In agreement with the original study, we confirm that price series data do not support strong statements about biofuels uniformly serving as main leading source of high food prices and consequently the food shortages.

Food or Fuel: What Does India want to Secure?

Food or Fuel: What Does India want to Secure?

From soil remediation to biofuel: Process simulation of bioethanol production from Arundo donax

A range of energy crops can be grown on marginal land (i.e. land that is not suitable for food crop production or contaminated site) to provide feedstocks for bioenergy, non-food products and biofuels. The food versus fuel debate had a significant negative impact in Europe on first generation biofuels production from food crops (i.e. wheat, rapeseed, etc). A new approach involving the use of marginal land for the production of lignocellulosic species for the production of bioethanol is now pursued in Italy and in many other countries, where the demand for high quality water resources, arable land, food and fossil fuels is rapidly growing. With an emerging “feed versus fuel debate” there is a pressing need to find options for the use of marginal lands and wastewaters or saline ground waters to produce second generation biofuel or bio paper crops. Arundo donax was selected as a potential crop for use in these areas, since it produces more cellulosic biomass and sequesters more contaminants, using less land and pesticides than any other alternative crops reported in the literature. The objective of this paper is to evaluate economically a simplified process for the production of second generation bioethanol from A. donax. Process calculations and economic analyses are performed using the software SuperPro Designer®.

Food Versus Fuel: Extractive Industries, Insecure Land Tenure, and Gaps in World Food Production

Summary Corporations now go “to the ends of the earth” to extract natural resources like oil and diamonds from the earth at the same time that farmers, investors, and development experts try to expand the supply of food, sometimes through large land acquisitions in remote regions. These two processes of globalization interact in important ways. Cross-national analyses indicate that oil and mineral dependent nations with neo-patrimonial elites have lower than expected areas under cultivation and yields from cereal crops. Booms in extractive sectors and neo-patrimonial practices in governance have debilitated agricultural enterprises within nations and conceivably throughout the globe.

Food Versus Fuel: Causality and Predictability in Distribution

This paper examines the relationship between biofuels and commodity food prices in the U.S. from a new perspective. While a large body of literature has tried to explain the linkages between sample means and volatilities associated with ethanol and agricultural price returns, little is known about their whole distributions. We focus on predictability in distribution by asking whether ethanol returns can be used to forecast different parts of field crops returns distribution, or vice versa. Density forecasts are constructed using Conditional Autoregressive Expectile models estimated with Asymmetric Least Squares. Forecast evaluation relies on quantile-weighed scoring rules, which identify regions of the distribution of interest to the analyst. Results show that both the centre and the left tail of the ethanol returns distribution can be predicted by using field crops returns. On the contrary, there is no evidence that ethanol can be used to forecast any region of the field crops distribution.

Food Versus Fuel: Causality and Predictability in Distribution

Food Versus Fuel: Causality and Predictability in Distribution

Food Versus Fuel: Causality and Predictability in Distribution

This paper examines the relationship between biofue ls and commodity food prices in the U.S. from a new perspective. While a large body of liter ature has tried to explain the linkages between sample means and volatilities associated with ethan ol and agricultural price returns, little is known about their whole distributions. We focus on predic tability in distribution by asking whether ethanol returns can be used to forecast different p arts of field crops returns distribution, or vice versa. Density forecasts are constructed using Cond itional Autoregressive Expectile models estimated with Asymmetric Least Squares. Forecast evaluation relies on quantile-weighed scoring rules, which identify regions of the distribution o f interest to the analyst. Results show that both the centre and the left tail of the ethanol returns distribution can be predicted by using field crops returns. On the contrary, there is no evidence that ethanol can be used to forecast any region of the field crops distribution.

Food Versus Fuel: Causality and Predictability in Distribution

This paper examines the relationship between biofuels and commodity food prices in the U.S. from a new perspective. While a large body of literature has tried to explain the linkages between sample means and volatilities associated with ethanol and agricultural price returns, little is known about their whole distributions. We focus on predictability in distribution by asking whether ethanol returns can be used to forecast different parts of field crops returns distribution, or vice versa. Density forecasts are constructed using Conditional Autoregressive Expectile models estimated with Asymmetric Least Squares. Forecast evaluation relies on quantile-weighed scoring rules, which identify regions of the distribution of interest to the analyst. Results show that both the centre and the left tail of the ethanol returns distribution can be predicted by using field crops returns. On the contrary, there is no evidence that ethanol can be used to forecast any region of the field crops distribution.

Book Review: Food versus Fuel

Book Review: Food versus Fuel

Business highlights

AbstractA) FOOD VS FUEL Politicians defend biofuels by Muriel Cozier; B) COLLABORATION Biofuels fly high by Muriel Cozier; C) COMMERCIALIZATION Chemicals from biomass at demonstration scale by Muriel Cozier; D) COMPETITION European biodiesel saga continues by Muriel Cozier; E) INVESTMENT BP invests in Brazilian ethanol by Muriel Cozier; F) COMMERCIALIZATION First commercial BTL plant ready to run by Muriel Cozier;

Editorial: Food vs fuel – the role of biotechnology

Editorial: Food <i>vs</i> fuel – the role of biotechnology