BioDiesel hits Sundance

[Adam]

I love the Borne Identity theme music, makes it feel like it'll be a fast paced thriller.

http://www.fieldsoffuel.com/

[Delicanadabc]

And what will happen to global food prices? The stain on developing countries food supply will only increase by using food goods for fuel consumption.

Clearly it helps reduce the use of petroleum but it is truly a band aid solution. Never before has the world food goods capacity been so low and demand so high. The need for "other" fuel solutions must be spear pointed with a major decrease in consumption.

[Adam]

And what will happen to global food prices? The stain on developing countries food supply will only increase by using food goods for fuel consumption.

I haven't seen the film yet, but they are promoting the use of waste veggie oil for biodiesel production on their website and in the interviews I've seen surrounding the film. And hey, Woody Harrelson is a supporter, so it has to be good for mother Earth....or it gets you high....either or....


Even if they used fresh veggie oil, the pressures on global food prices would not exist to nearly the same degree as using cereal crops for ethanol production, according to the Canadian Canola industry that is:

Will using canola oil as a feedstock for biodiesel cause food shortages?

No, there are several reasons why the new demand for canola oil created by biodiesel will not reduce the availability of canola for food use.

1. We have already proven that we grow more than enough canola to fill the mandate. For example, let's consider the amount of canola that would be needed to fill the federal government's recently announced requirement that 2% of the volume of diesel used in Canada be replaced with renewable diesel (biodiesel). To do this, 1.3 million tonnes of canola seed would be required. The “carry over” of canola seed (unsold volume) was 1.59 million tonnes in 2004/05; 2.02 million tonnes in 2005/06 and 1.58 million tonnes for 2006/07.
2. Canola oil is prized as a healthy oil by consumers in developed countries, such as Canada, the United States and Japan and all are capable of absorbing the small increases in food costs that could result from higher grains and oilseed prices. Although there are some developing markets, for example, Mexico and China that also purchase canola, the demographic of the canola consumer in these countries is very close to those of the developed world meaning that they have sufficient disposable income to purchase higher value oils such as canola.

3. We are going to be able to produce more canola. The numbers of canola acres planted by farmers are increasing, as is the yield of seed that is harvested from those acres. For example, in each of the past two years canola has yielded more than 30 bushels of canola per acre compared to the long term average of 26 bushels per acre. This is due to improved varieties of canola. In addition, canola acres will set a new record in 2007, due to the attractiveness of the financial returns for growing the crop.
4. We are actually going to create more canola meal as a result of increased demand for canola that biodiesel will create. We expect that this increased production will result in lower prices which could actually reduce the cost of feeding dairy cattle, poultry and pork.

It is also worth noting that farmers produce 75% more canola than is required to meet the needs of Canadian consumers so in order to increase use of canola at home, it is necessary to develop a new market outlet, such as renewable fuels.

Looking at the broader global issue of food versus fuel as it relates to biodiesel, it is conceivable that the production of biofuels could actually improve the economic welfare of people living in some of the world's poorest regions. Farmers in Peru, for example are interested in producing canola for domestic biodiesel production. In parts of Africa, the Jatropha plant can be grown to produce oil for biodiesel potentially creating an important new income source for subsistence farmers.