Biotech Updates

Book Release on Sugarcane Ethanol and Biofuels

January 30, 2009
http://www.wageningenacademic.com/default.asp?pageid=0&docid=16&artdetail=sugarcane&webgroupfilter=950&
http://www.thebioenergysite.com/articles/252/sugarcane-ethanol-contributions-to-climate-change-mitigation-and-the-environment

This is the title of the book published by Wageningen Academic Publishers which “looks at the scientific basis on the debate of sugarcane ethanol” for transport biofuels. The book, which is a compilation of writings by different authors, discusses the impacts of sugarcane ethanol “on climate change, land use, sustainability and market demands,”  with Brazil as major player. Issues related to public policy, food-fuel dilemma and millennium development goals are also discussed. Some of the book highlights (posted by “thebioenergysite” website) are: (1) “Brazil is dominant in the production of sugarcane with the country accounting for 75 per cent of the increase in the area of land allotted to sugarcane between 2000 and 2007,” (2) “there is no evidence to show that deforestation is a direct consequence of sugarcane production.” (The book also shows, however, that Brazil does comply with the targets for greenhouse gas reduction), (3) “the success of Brazil's sugarcane- to-bioenergy production is down to the fact that it can produce high levels of ethanol, 7,000 litres of ethanol per hectare, and electricity, 6.1 MW hours per hectare, with low input of fertilizer and chemicals.” More information about the book contents and ordering can be obtained from the Wageningen Academic Publishers and the BioenergySite Bookshop website (URLs above)..