THE IMPACT ON LAND USE OF BIOFUEL PRODUCTION

Producing fuel from agricultural crops has already raised question,.; about the impacts on the supply of food and land. What has received less attention is the shift that would result in the location of feedstock and fuel production. Energy demand and land productivity are somewhat asymmetrical. To date, this asymmetry has not mattered greatly as the consumption of biofuels has been insignificant compared to fossil fuels. Most countries have been able to supply their markets with domestically produced biofuels;, importing biofuel for transportation use has been minimal. However, as demand increases and as developing countries identify a market in which they may have a comparative advantage, international trade in biofuels may become more commonplace. While developing countries thus arguably have a comparative advantage, there arc also concerns that increased production of feedstocks and biofuels it these countries might contribute to increased food insecurity and prove environmentally disruptive.