Getting Biofuels Right: The Biofuel vs. Food and Environment Dilemma

G David Tilman is Regents' Professor and McKnight Presidential Chair in Ecology at the University of Minnesota, and Director of the University's Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. His research explores how managed and natural ecosystems can meet human needs for food and energy sustainably. Tilman has written five books and published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers; he has been the world's most highly cited environmental scientist for three decades.

In his Food for Thought lecture, David suggests solutions: Biofuels can be produced from perennials grown on agriculturally degraded lands without displacing food production or causing loss of biodiversity through habitat destruction. Similarly, biofuels made from waste biomass, manure, corn stover, forest slash, or thinnings offer immediate and sustained advantages and net energy gains.

Outreach in Biotechnology's Food for Thought Lecture Series brings together internationally recognized experts to talk about the best (and worst) ways to use biotechnology for food and fuel. For more information, go to http://OregonState.edu/OrB

A study guide to this lecture is available at http://oregonstate.edu/orb/food-for-thought

Recorded 25 Feb 2008

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Food for Thought
• Outreach in Biotechnology
• David Tilman
• biofuel
• climate change
• agriculture