Is there Room for a harmonious Relationship between Biofuel Production and Food Security?

Abstract

In order to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gases, and to ensure energetic security, countries have emphasized the production of renewable biofuels. However, the exponentially increased production of biofuels has seriously impacted the prices of some agricultural commodities, which renders food security a less attainable agenda given the dispute over allocating the same agricultural resources to the production of either food or biofuels. An alternative way of increasing the production of biofuels that would minimize conflicting uses of agricultural commodities is discussed here: the lignocellulosic biomass. We conclude that this represents for Brazil a valuable opportunity of increasing the production of second-generation ethanol without compromising food security.