Biofuels may fuel Global security risks

Biofuels are touted to save the world by reducing dependence on fossil fuels and reducing emissions. They can also be economic boons for the producing countries. All this paints a very rosy picture for the world to embrace biofuels. But all is not hunky-dory with this alternative to fossil fuels, as a report from Jane's Intelligence Review points.

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It appears that in the hype of biofuels, certain social, political and practical considerations were overlooked. As is obvious, bringing a greater area into cultivation for biofuels will inevitably reduce the available area for the growth of food crops and put a heavy demand on water supplies and irrigation.

In a world where the demand for food is rising by the day. This would inevitably raise food prices and the governments could have to face social unrest as the poor section of the populace does not reap any benefits from biofuels but instead experience a price rise in food quantities.

Efforts to clear land for the cultivation of biofuels may lead to environmental degradation, as forests might have to be cleared for their cultivation. Cultivation on available land may also not be a cakewalk for the countries suffering unrest in the form of non-state armed groups. Countries such as Columbia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand may find acquiring land for cultivation a difficult task as the non-state armed groups may decipher such an effort as a challenge to territorial control.

In Columbia, the large tracts of supposedly unused land are actually used for cultivation of cocoa plants that produce cocaine, which funds the armed groups. The control of such land would be strongly opposed.

The report points out that while environmental issues point to long-term risks in the form of climatic changes, the short-term risks in the form of heightened competition for land, food and water resources will be more pressing and with a greater strategic impact.

Jane's Intelligence Review is a journal published by Jane's Information Group, an open source information provider on defence, international risk and national security to governments, militaries, industries and academia around the globe.

The world has looked forward to biofuels not only as a mean to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, but also as a way to a cleaner environment. A well-to-wheels study suggests that first generation biofuels can save upto 60% carbon emissions while the second-generation biofuels might bring this figure to nearly 80%.

This is indeed a giant venture and a great possibility and the governments around the world must ensure that biofuels are produced with no social unrest and minimum load on the existing food chain and water resources, otherwise this hyped alternative could envisage a plethora of problems, something which is not alien to the existing choice.

[Image: Renerp]

Via: Janes