CAST Commentary on Biodiesel Production

“Biodiesel is developing into a widely accepted alternative fuel. Quality concerns have been addressed, and most fuel today integrates easily into the existing diesel fuel infrastructure. Further expansion of the industry will require new or larger sources of vegetable oils and animal fats that can be produced at prices that allow biodiesel to compete with petroleum-based diesel fuel.” This was forwarded by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) Task Force Chair Dr. Jon Van Gerpen, University of Idaho, who spearheaded a commentary on “Convergence of Agriculture and Energy: III. Considerations in Biodiesel Production.”

The commentary reviews the technology of biodiesel production in the United States and outlines major issues and policy implications associated with its expanded production and use. The full text is available online at http://www.cast-science.org.