»agriculture«

Soaring oil prices made biofuels more economical. But is it all good. Fred Pearce goes in the New Scientist (27.9.2006) into the details. Besides the known positive effect to substitute fossil fuels, can biofuels meet the demands? And, what happens to the environment and other areas when biofuels are produced on a mega-industrial scale? However, is it appropriate to turn food crops like corn into fuel?

Men today are cultivating just 150 species, in the past we grew more than 7000 plants for consumption, warns ANDREA RIZZI in El Pais (13.6.2006). The diversity of the crops is decreasing every time faster. The FAO asserts that in the last century we have lost 75% of the varieties in the field. This means less resistance and adaptation to climatic changes and diseases. On the other hand possibilities are diminishing that allow the improvement of crops by mixing genes.

A new study compared the energy efficiency and greenhouse gas potential of biodiesel, made from soybeans, and bioethanol, made from corn. However, "the study concludes that the future of replacing oil and gas lies with cellulosic ethanol produced from low-cost materials like switch grass or wheat straw, if it is grown on agriculturally marginal land or from waste plant material," writes Alexei Barrionuevo for the NY Times (13.7.2006).

The plant science devision of chemical company BASF is about to receiving approval for its genetically modified potato, called Amflora. The potato is optimized in its starch composition as for it only contains amylopectin. This compound is interesting for the non-food starch industry and may pave the way for more acceptance of GMO in the public, writes Tina Baier in Süddeutsche Zeitung (28.11.2006). Indeed, critics mostly agree that there's no risk to people but the potatoes have to be kept away from the food supply chain.