Developing Countries as the World's Next Top Biodiesel Producers

Thailand, Colombia and Uruguay could be tomorrow’s world top biodiesel producers, according to a new study from the Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Matt Johnston and Tracey Holloway of the Institute ranked 226 countries based on their potential to make large volumes of biodiesel at low cost, in addition to other factors such as local demands. The analysis revealed among the top ten the United States, the world’s top soybean grower; Brazil, already one of the world’s top biodiesel producer; and the European countries the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Spain.

According to the researchers, the real objective of the study was to identify developing countries that already export vegetable oil, but may not have considered producing biodiesel. The trade balances of these countries could be improved by exporting biodiesel, a high value commodity, instead of unprocessed vegetable oil. They could also use the biofuels for their own energy needs. By highlighting the countries where biodiesel production is likely to soar, Johnston and Holloway hope that their study will help people recognize the problems associated with the biofuel industry beforehand. Many institutions, including the United Nations, expressed their concerns over the tendency of diverting vegetable oil use from food to fuel production, as it will definitely affect the world’s poor.

Read more at http://www.sage.wisc.edu/energy/ and http://www.sage.wisc.edu/energy/Biodiesel_Manuscript.pdf