One Quarter of U.S. Grain Crops Fuel Cars

Just wait till the price of petroleum spikes again. The price of food will be riding the same rocket.

Good! Food is terribly underpriced now. I can't imagine how cheap it would be if all this corn were used to feed animals and people.

I got it.
I would favor hemp though. Its biomass is richer than any other plant, the photosynthesis is faster too. Henry Ford predicted that a long time ago with his hemp car powered by hemp biofuel.

To Wetdog:
I couldn't agree more with what you said about corporate domination.
My comment was referring to our current political situation which is letting monsters like Monsanto gain this monopoly on food and soon on biofuel.
I said these crops will lead to environmental catastrophes and you corrected me by saying that it's humans instead that lead to that. What's the difference?

These crops are run by the not so humans Monsanto people and companies alike.
These are the current HUMANS behind our politic.
You are trying to tell me that it's not an environmental problem but a human one. Tell me something I don't know.
By supporting this technology right now you are supporting their investments and their agenda.
You cannot promote biofuel as an efficient and ecological alternative energy if it's in the wrong hands; It is owned by these corporations and they will use it to the detriment of our environment and THEY WON'T "use and replace" like you are suggesting.
It's just not going to happen.
They are making you promote their brand, they want people like you and me to push and approve this biofuel made of corn to safeguard their financial investments.
That's what they want! They want you to forget about solar power, because it could potentially offer us less dependence and more control of our own lives which means less dollar and power to them.
I will write more later on.
Thank you.

-------"This only feeds Monsanto's agenda, it will expand their power and wealth."---------

Ethanol can be made from any kind of plant material at all. And we have been able to do it for over 100 years. Before WW1 the largest source of alcohol was wood waste. This was made in both Germany and the United States using the Scholler process using wood waste from logging and milling operations. This was being done in the 1890s. Look at pictures of WW2----all the tires and other rubber parts on all those tanks, ships, airplanes, trucks, jeeps and other equipment were made from wood converted to ethanol as the basic feedstock to produce butadeine---artificial rubber. The ethanol was produced from wood logging waste at a plant in Wisconsin using the Scholler process.

After the loss of North Africa and the bombing of Ploesti by the Allies in WW2, Germany manufactured all of their fuel needs from wood and coal using the Fischer-Tropsch process. F-T can produce any type of fuel from any type of carbon source, including wood and coal. Wood was the preferred feedstock because coal contains sulphur that poisons the catalyst beds and shuts the process down. They powered everything from submarines, to panzer tanks, trucks, V1 and V2 rockets, even the Me-262 Swallow, the world's first operational jet fighter with diesel fuel and alcohols made using the Fischer-Tropsch process.

------------" Do not forget that these crops lead to deforestation,desertification,climate change, the widespread use of herbicides and pesticides and the cross-contamination, a recipe for disaster. "---------------

No. Humans lead to deforestation, desertification, climate change and widespread use of herbicides and pesticides. They can be controlled by limiting unrestricted human exploitation of the environment-----the rule should be, "Use only what you need, and replace what you use." If we use trees, plant new trees for every tree you cut down, if we use corn, use soil conservation techniques, if we use water, don't use water faster than it can be replaced----if that can't be done, then make a new source of water.

-------"The world has to focus on ecologically and efficient alternative energies, not an other oxymoron that only feeds these evil monster corporations, makes us poorer and constantly dependent."-------------

Biofuels do that by making us dependent on our environment and its protection by only providing what we need if we protect the environment-----no more, "Oh, we are using too much fuel, oh well, just drill more oil wells or dig more coal." With biofuels we HAVE to take care of the environment---if we don't, no more fuel.

--------"..................not an other oxymoron that only feeds these evil monster corporations, makes us poorer and constantly dependent."-------------

That is a human problem, not an environmental or technological problem. The answer is in limiting the power of corporate monopolies to exploit people and the environment. The more you try to limit options available, the more power you give to corporations by taking options away from individuals. THAT is why you have vehicles that only use petroleum---the corporations don't WANT people to have a choice about what fuel they use---they want people FORCED to use only the fuel that only THEY can provide.

You are saying EXACTLY what the corporate interests WANT you to say,

This only feeds Monsanto's agenda, it will expand their power and wealth.
GMO corn needs to be eliminated altogether.
Biofuel is not the answer to our world's energy crisis.
Monsanto owns the food and soon will own the fuel unless we stop this.
Do not forget that these crops lead to deforestation,desertification,climate change, the widespread use of herbicides and pesticides and the cross-contamination, a recipe for disaster.
The world has to focus on ecologically and efficient alternative energies, not an other oxymoron that only feeds these evil monster corporations, makes us poorer and constantly dependent.

as far as bio fuel, using corn and other grain isn't going to be the answer. It has to big of ramifications in secondary markets. the technology behind bio fuels im most intrigued with is algae be farmed in cylinders.

I wish trains were everywhere . Cars are far less safe anyways .

Ethanol is produced from dent corn. Humans can not eat dent corn, it is raised for animal feed. When ethanol is produced, what is left over is Dried Distillers Grain, the nonstarch parts of the grain and yeast culture. Field corn is only about 2-4% protein and the rest starches and very little else. Twinkies and Ding Dongs for cattle, it puts on weight fast, but it is almost all fat----wasteful(the fat is usually trimmed off and discarded) and not healthy for the people who eat the meat. Dried Distillers Grain(DDG) is about 25-30% protein---and is used to replace soy meal in feed formulas because it costs about 1/2 as much. Corn has about 3X the yield per acre of soy and costs about 1/3 per bushel. The ethanol produced in making DDG is an added bonus. It has to be removed anyway---otherwise, you'd have herds of drunk cattle and pigs on your hands.

So, when you produce ethanol from corn, you not only get ethanol, you also get high grade animal feed as well. Oh yes, most human vitamin and protein supplements are made from DDG also. DDG is used in all types of animal feeds, cattle, swine, fowl, even fish, and dog and cat food(if the label lists "yeast cultures" it contains DDG---added to provide essential vitamins, amino acids and trace elements)

If you eat dairy products or baked goods, you are also eating DDG.

Producing ethanol from corn produces both food and fuel.

London is a long way from Iowa or Kansas. Appearantly people living in London don't know much about ranching, dairy farming or where food comes from. Maybe they should consult their friends in Scotland, the Scots (always known for their frugal ways) have been feeding dried mash from whiskey production to their cattle for centuries.