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Intelligence Review Reveals BioFuels Pose Global Security Risks
The US and Brazil are among a raft of countries looking to ramp up their biofuel* production amid concerns over the long-term supply of traditional energy sources, bringing new concerns over global security.

Jane’s Intelligence Review reports that while biofuels offer many advantages for producing countries, the potential long-term environmental degradation and increased competition for land and water resources means it cannot be viewed as a risk-free alternative to non-renewable fuels.

Anna Gilmour, an independent analyst for Jane’s Intelligence Review says greater use of land for biofuel production will inevitably mean a reduction in land for food crops at a time when the rising global population is putting increased demand on food and water supplies.

“While there is clearly a growing demand for the conversion to biofuel production it could also expose governments to rising social unrest, as food prices rise and poorer members of society reap few benefits from the new ‘wondercrop’, “says Ms Gilmour.

“Apart from the social unrest and job losses, the expansion of this industry has the potential to increase internal conflict between governments and non-state armed groups in countries such as Colombia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines."

Efforts to clear new land for biofuel production will be strongly opposed by non-state armed groups who may view it as a challenge for territorial control, resulting in action and subsequently more unrest.

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Intelligence Review Reveals BioFuels Pose Global Security Risks



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SleeperZZZSleeperZZZ - 7/17/2007 10:03:19 AM
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Ah yes Brazil where the police randomly kill street gang children and every acre of biofuel is another lost acre of rain forest.

And in the wonderful US we can't grow enough biofuel to cornhole our cars.

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Agent009Agent009 - 7/17/2007 10:09:22 AMView My AgentSpace
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It does seem pretty short sighted to move towards a renewable source of fuel that in it current state could never support the demand.

Now I wonder if the middle eastern countries would view this move towards biofuels as a national threat? After all this would have a direct financial impact on them in a manner that many are unable to compete with.

This also empowers nations rich in agriculture but with a poor economy. They could potentially become the next OPEC.

A complete paradigm shift.


M35MTM35MT - 7/17/2007 2:28:08 PMView My AgentSpace
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Ah yes, Middle-eastern countries without their precious oil revenue. I've always wondered that myself.

Biofuel is not the answer.

Hydrogen is.


M53RM53R - 7/17/2007 5:39:47 PMView My AgentSpace
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No dont worry about us, we get enough money from tourism and we'll be fine! Thanks for asking about us anyway :)


EnnNorakEnnNorak - 7/18/2007 11:27:16 AM
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I demonize Brazil for cutting down the rain forest but praise them for using sugar cane ethanol to eliminate imported oil completely. Brazil should be confiscated by the United Nations and be forced to regrow the rain forest they have destroyed.

As for corn ethanol, forget it! It costs at least 75% of the energy to produce the stuff as the energy we get out of it. Some scientists estimate that, when all factors are taken into account, it takes more energy to produce, transport, and use corn ethanol than the energy derived from it. Ethanol cannot even be transported via pipelines because it would pick up contaminants along the way. Ethanol is transported by truck at high monetary and environmental cost.

We should stop fattening ourselves by overeating sugar and harness Florida's sugar cane fields for the production of sugar cane ethanol. Sugar cane ethanol is produced much more efficiently than corn ethanol. This is a great opportunity for the domestic sugar cane industry with or without governmnet incentives given the current price of automotive fuel.


GeorgemiaGeorgemia - 7/19/2007 9:01:49 PM
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Hey, thanks but sugar cane cultivation in Florida is perhaps the most environmentally destructive agricultural practice in the world. It only exists because the government massively subsidizes it, and permits foreign workers to cut it, living in slave labor conditions.

Not a good solution, thank you. We'd like to have drinking water for a few years more down here.

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