Ethanol Gains Favor As climate Focus Intensifies

May 03, 2016

As the focus on carbon reduction and climate change intensifies around the world, ethanol seems to be gaining favor.

A debate has raged for years over ethanol’s carbon footprint and whether or not it plays a positive role in fighting climate change. But U.S. corn ethanol fuel production has experienced significant energy use and greenhouse gas emission reductions over the course of the last few years—a fact that even some of ethanol’s strongest critics are starting to recognize.

“Everybody’s really focused on carbon and climate change,” says Doug Durante, executive director of the Clean Fuels Development Coalition. “It’s generally agreed that it’s positive to reduce carbon and the transportation sector continues to be a big part of that. Ethanol and renewable fuels are a great way to do that.”

Ethanol supporters say innovations in energy use and conversion technology at ethanol production facilities, and innovations in corn production management, have reduced the current carbon intensity of corn ethanol fuel by more than 50 percent since 2008.

“With all the concerns about reducing their dependence on fossil fuels, lowering the carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, ethanol comes out as a winner,” says Tom Buis, co-chairman of Growth Energy. “”We have less greenhouse gas emissions, we’re higher-performing and we’re cheaper.”

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Video: How farmers are protecting the soil and our food security | DW Documentary

For a long time, soil was all but ignored. But for years, the valuable humus layer has been thinning. Farmers in Brandenburg are clearly feeling the effects of this on their sandy fields. Many are now taking steps to prepare their farms for the future.

Years of drought, record rainfall and failed harvests: we are becoming increasingly aware of how sensitively our environment reacts to extreme weather conditions. Farmers' livelihoods are at stake. So is the ability of consumers to afford food.

For a few years now, agriculture that focuses solely on maximum yields has been regarded with increasing skepticism. It is becoming more and more clear just how dependent we are on healthy soils.

Brandenburg is the federal state with the worst soil quality in Germany. The already thin, fertile humus layer has been shrinking for decades. Researchers and farmers who are keen to experiment are combating these developments and looking for solutions. Priority is being given to building up the humus layer, which consists of microorganisms and fungi, as well as springtails, small worms and centipedes.

For Lena and Philipp Adler, two young vegetable farmers, the tiny soil creatures are invaluable helpers. On their three-hectare organic farm, they rely on simple, mechanical weed control, fallow areas where the soil can recover, and diversity. Conventional farmer Mark Dümichen also does everything he can to protect soil life on his land. For years, he has not tilled the soil after the harvest and sows directly into the field. His yields have stabilized since he began to work this way.

Isabella Krause from Regionalwert AG Berlin-Brandenburg is convinced after the experiences of the last hot summers that new crops will thrive on Brandenburg's fields in the long term. She has founded a network of farmers who are promoting the cultivation of chickpeas with support from the scientific community.