PLANT 105 CSUF The Fate of Biofuel Farmers During the Pandemic Essay

Hello, I need help for plant science for –
Food, Society, and Environment
make use newspaper article and University library.

Guidelines for Critical Review 1 C
Length: Body of paper (i.e. excluding title page and references) must be between 1000 and
1100 words.
Please note the following:
1. The 1100 words limit DOES NOT INCLUDE the title page and reference list!
2. Include a title page with at least the following information: Title of the paper; Your
name; The number of words in the essay.
3. Include a MINIMUM of FIVE (5) references of which at least THREE (3) must be peer
reviewed journal articles (Scholarly Journals).
Use the following format:
•
Font: Times New Roman or Arial
•
Font Size: 12 point
•
Margins: 1-inch margin on left; 0.5 inch margin- top, bottom and right
•
Text: double spaced
•
Titles and Headings: bolded and/or underlined
•
Page numbering: Yes – at bottom right hand corner of page
•
Tables and Figures: Refer to these in your text and attach these after your list of
references.
•
List of References: Follow the author-year similar to that outlined for the critical
review. Use the APA style (word has a built-in reference citation tools – just click
the “references” option)!
•
Do a word count of text and indicate the number of words on the title page.
Critical Review 1 final section Assignment:
Guidelines:
The main goal of this assignment is to evaluate the evidence available in the current
literature and reach conclusions that you can defend as you critically discuss the statement
regarding your Topic. Use the information you developed in Critical Review 1 parts A and B.
OVERALL GOAL OF THE CRITICAL REVIEWYou are required to write a critical evaluation paper
on an aspect on one of the seven topics listed below.
Topic 1: Food safety
Topic 2: Global warming/ Climate Change
Topic 3: Bio-fuels /Bio Energy
Topic 4: Alternative breeding techniques (Genetic Engineering (GMO), mutation breeding, CRISPR
technology, Marker assisted selection, etc.)
Topic 5: Land Degradation
Topic 6: Water Pollution
Topic 7: Agriculture and Biodiversity
You are expected to develop and defend your own independent conclusions
based on all the evidence examined.
Finally, conclude by proposing any further questions on this topic you think should
be addressed in the future.
You must provide substantial citations for the material discussed in your paper.
These citations MUST be referenced at the end of the body of your paper. (Again: Follow APA
style of citing your references)
Article Analysis
What is the fate of Biofuel Farmers during the pandemic?
The main topic in the article is the fate of biofuel farmers during the pandemic or rather
the impact of the pandemic on Biofuel farmers. The author begins by relating the present impact
1
of the COVID 19 pandemic to the Great Depression on farmers in Iowa. The author assumes that
the COVID 19 pandemic has affected the agriculture sector, affecting the farming of plants that
influence the production of biofuels. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the markets as
schools, restaurants, and hotels were shut down (Eller, 2020).
Equally, meatpacking plants are shutting down as a high number of workers tested
positive for COVID-19. The prices for corn, soybeans, beef, pork, milk, and eggs have reduced.
The COVID-19 pandemic has limited movement by Americans, thus causing a reduction in
ethanol and oil consumption. Ethanol is the leading consumer of Iowa’s corn crop each year.
Never before has there been a drop in ethanol consumption. The situation is stressful for farmers,
thus impacting them financially and emotionally. Iowa produces most corn, eggs, and hogs.
Therefore the COVID 19 significantly impacted biofuel farmers.
Quality of supporting evidence presented in the article.
COVID 19 has had a significant impact on agriculture, and many farms will not survive.
The author provides evidence and statistics to back up the assumptions. For ethanol production,
there has been a drop incomparable to the 80s during the Great depression. According to Eller
(2020), about 60% of corn produced in Iowa goes to ethanol production and ends up producing
corn oil and byproduct used to feed livestock. Due to the pandemic, about half of ethanol
production plants are down as many Americans work from home as per the COVID 19 measures.
Despite raising the animals, the farmers have had to throw away their livestock products due to
decreased ethanol production and consumption.
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The author cited significant statements from core persons in the industry to support the
assumptions, thus providing valid evidence. The president of the Iowa soybean association board
noted that the current prices of agricultural products are reducing everywhere, which means
money is lost everywhere. Further, an economist who had studied the pandemic’s impact stated
that there would be a 20% reduction in livestock production and grain producer’s revenue. For
Iowa farmers, the economic decline is expected to reach $7 billion. The corn prices have dropped
by 15%, Soybean by 8%, hog by 33%, and cattle prices by 21% (Eller, 2020). There has been an
appeal to compensate the farmers for their losses or provide finances to assist them. For instance,
the federal government has requested the state government of Iowa to help euthanize the
animals.
The selected topic is the fate of biofuel farmers during the pandemic or the pandemic’s
impact on the biofuel farmers. I intend to analyze the effects of the pandemic on the farmers
used evidence from scholarly articles and online news articles. Biofuels can be produced from
biomass or organic matter such as sugar, corn, waste from livestock, and vegetable oils.
Seleiman et al. (2020) analyze the pandemic’s impact on food security, animal sectors, and
agriculture in Brazil, a leading producer of Soybean. The closure of borders reduced production.
This is comparable to the United States as it’s also affected by the pandemic.
According to Elleby et al. (2020), the economic slowdown resulting from the pandemic
has led to a drop in biofuel prices. It followed the fall in prices in maize or corn, feedstocks, and
oilseeds. The major lockdowns across the world have led to a drop in the demand for transport
fuel, thus significantly impacted the biofuel market and the farmers. There has also been a fall in
3
biofuels’ international prices, thus making it less competitive with fossil fuels. Due to this lower
demand for fossil fuels, products such as livestock, corn, and oilseeds affect the market for other
crop and animal products. When this market is affecting, the farmers are affected as they depend
on the biofuel prices and market. Ellen et al. (2020) further analyze the positive impact of this
reduction in demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It has led to reducing emissions, thus
reducing the negative climatic implications.
According to Carpenter (2020) on Forbes, the biofuel farmers have been hit hard by the
Coronavirus pandemic. The corn and soybeans’ prices were continuously dropping, and farmers
received the notification on fall of prices daily. There are many reasons associated with the price
drop. The plants turning corn into ethanol are continuously shutting down. The farmers have to
redirect their corn market. According to Schmitz, Moss & Schmitz (2020), the COVID -19
pandemic has significantly impacted ethanol, gasoline, and oil production, affecting their
markets. The biofuel companies have experienced significant economic losses during the
pandemic. Further according to Hart et al. (2020) presents data on the impact of the pandemic on
the agriculture sector in Iowa. It is estimated that the damage on corn is about $788 million, $213
million for Soybeans, and more than $2.5 billion for ethanol due to the falling prices.
4
References
Carpenter, S. (2020, October 5). Corn Farmers Take Covid In Stride: ‘Ethanol Isn’t Going
Away’. Forbes. Retrieved from
https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottcarpenter/2020/10/05/ethanol-industry-takespandemic-in-stride-farm-country-know-its-here-to-stay
Elleby, C., Domínguez, I. P., Adenauer, M., & Genovese, G. (2020). Impacts of the COVID-19
pandemic on the global agricultural markets. Environmental and Resource Economics,
76(4), 1067-1079.
Eller, D. (2020, May 13). Iowa farmers try to hang on through COVID-19 pandemic. Usa Today.
Retrieved from https://login.hmlproxy.lib.csufresno.edu/login?url=https://www-proquestcom.hmlproxy.lib.csufresno.edu/newspapers/iowa-farmers-try-hang-on-through-covid19/docview/2401567930/se-2?-accountid=10349\ Hart, C., Hayes, D. J., Jacobs, K. L., Schulz, L. L., & Crespi, J. (2020). The impact of COVID19 on Iowa’s corn, soybean, ethanol, pork, and beef sectors. CARD Policy Briefs. 30.
Schmitz, A., Moss, C. B., & Schmitz, T. G. (2020). The Economic Effects of COVID-19 on the
Producers of Ethanol, Corn, Gasoline, and Oil. Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial
Organization, 18(2).
5
Seleiman, M. F., Selim, S., Alhammad, B. A., Alharbi, B. M., & Juliatti, F. C. (2020). Will novel
coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic impact agriculture, food security and animal
sectors?. Bioscience Journal, 36(4).
6
Part A of Critical Review 1 Plant 105 – Food, Society, Environment
(This form must be filled out and submit the completed form electronically to Canvas)
My Major topic is:_____________________________________
1. Describe how you conducted your literature search. (e.g. indicate what databases and
keywords you used). (2pts)
2. Provide a reference for the newspaper article you obtained from your search, using the APA
format such as that outlined in the guideline for citing references posted on Canvas. (2pts)
3. Submit an electronic copy of the newspaper article on canvas. (2 pts)
4. Provide a title for YOUR critical review paper and BRIEFLY describe what statements
and/or keywords in the newspaper article prompted you to formulate this title. (2pts)
5. Provide references, using the APA format as done in step 2 above, for three peer reviewed
journal articles which are related to the topic of your paper. (Note: You DO NOT have to attach
copies of these articles). (5pts)
6. Submit an electronic copy of this completed page (as a word document or PDF) into
assignment item designated for Part A called “CR 1A”. (Note: It is not necessary to submit an
electronic version of the newspaper article). (2pts)
Instructions for Critical Review 1A – WORTH 15 points
Plant 105 – Food, Society, Environment
1
OVERALL GOAL OF THE CRITICAL REVIEW
You are required to write a critical evaluation paper on an aspect on one of the seven topics
listed below.
Topic 1: Food safety
Topic 2: Global warming/ Climate Change
Topic 3: Bio-fuels /Bio Energy
Topic 4: Alternative breeding techniques (Genetic Engineering (GMO), mutation
breeding, CRISPR technology, Marker assisted selection, etc.)
Topic 5: Land Degradation
Topic 6: Water Pollution
Topic 7: Agriculture and Biodiversity
NOTE: This is not a general topic paper.
The main goal of the Critical Review assignments is for you to examine an argument, evaluate
all the evidence, and reach conclusion that you can defend. You are expected to describe
authors’ position and supporting evidence, evaluate how well the authors’ evidence supports
their position, present the findings of your research that either refutes or supports the authors,
and then discuss whether you agree or disagree with the authors.
This first critical review will be written in parts and later revised and combined into a final
paper.
EXPECTATIONS OF PART A- Literature Search and Title Selection
In Part A, you will conduct a literature search on one of the above listed major topics by
following the techniques presented in class by Ms. Britt Foster, Librarian Henry Madden
Library.
From your search you will identify the following items related to your major topic:
1. A newspaper article published within the last twelve months; and,
2. Three primary journal articles- these are NOT limited to the last twelve months
You will print out the newspaper article and submit it in class on February 11, 2021.
For the primary journal articles, you will provide reference citations using an author-year
method, such as that outlined in the “Method of referencing guidelines” posted on Canvas,
and you will save electronic copies of the primary journal articles for parts B and C when you
are critically discussing your topic. Use the APA style when you are citing your references.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING THIS PART A: February 11, 2021. For assignments submitted
after this time, I will review your assignment and give feedback, but note that this may impact
on your ability to get the other parts of the assignment submitted in a timely manner.
WHAT EXACTLY TO TURN IN ON February 11, 2021?
On CANVAS:
1. Submit an Electronic copy of the newspaper article on the designated folder (Canvas).
2. Post an electronic copy of the completed Part A of Critical Review 1 (next page) into the
assignment item on Canvas designated for Part A called “Critical Review 1A”.
2
Plant Science 105
Food Sources
Agricultural Crops: Plants as Source of
Food
Objectives:
1. To learn the meaning of agriculture and connect
it to our course Food, Society and Environment.
2. To identify the different food sources.
3. Distinguish major crops from minor crops.
4. Learn the different uses of some major & minor
crops.
What is Agriculture?
❖ is the process of producing food, feed,
fiber and other goods by the systematic
raising of plants and animals.
❖ It is the art and science of producing
crops or animals under supervision of
humans in a specific location.
❖ Food-Society-Environment
Where do we get our food?
1. Plants
2. Animals
3. Fungi
4. Algae
5. Bacteria
http://www.howdoyousaythatword.com/wpcontent/uploads/2012/01/fruit.jpg
http://www.meridian.k12.il.us/Mi
ddle%20School/student_work/Illi
nois%20Agriculture/corn_plant.jp
g
http://ppcdn.500px.org/8463464/4af2
e8504a2ec38dcd9f7ef74b471f4f94039
d51/5.jpg
Plant Domestication
❖ Plant domestication began before 6000 – 7,000 BC in the
“fertile crescent” Mesopotamia. Countries of Turkey, Syria,
Israel, Iran & Iraq.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=River+Tigris&view=detailv2&&id=F40E8E3DCCB795C9768718487720FE5C9A224C56&se
lectedIndex=21&ccid=phk887ts&simid=608038997933556678&thid=OIP.Ma6193cf3bb6c4cdfa5243d5c553beb0bH0&ajaxhist=0
Domesticated crops & their possible origin
Source: Brown, J., Caligari, P., Campos, H. (2014) Plant Breeding (2nd /ed) . UK, Blackwell Pub.
Uses & Economic importance of crops
❖ Food
❖ Building materials
❖ Supply fiber
❖ Perfumes
❖ Decoration
❖ Landscape
❖ Fuel
❖Medicines
Plants for Food
❖ about 420,000 plant species on earth
❖ about 50,000 edible plant species
❖ 250 to 300 plants used as food crops
❖ 3 plant species provide about 60% of
calories in human diet
• wheat and rice – primarily direct
• corn both direct and indirect (animal
feed)
World Crops
❖ most important food crops
• Cereal crops – cereal grains
• Root crops – potato
❖ field crops are also important
❖ Feed
❖ Oils (food and industrial)
❖ Fiber
provide 75% of world calories
(90% in some regions)
yam
Teff
millet
sorghum
rice
cassava
wheat
Potatoes
maize
Important Crops – World Acreage
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Wheat
Rice
Maize
Mixed Grass/Legume
Soybean
Barley
Sorghum
Millet
Seed Cotton
Dry Beans
522 million acres
376
345
252
189
134
104
91
84
64
Important Crops – World Production
1. Wheat
2. Rice
3. Maize
4. Potato
5. Barley
6. Sweet potato
7. Cassava
8. Grapes
9. Soybean
10. Oats
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Sorghum
Sugarcane
Millets
Banana
Tomato
Sugarbeet
Rye
Oranges
Coconut
Cottonseed oil
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
Apples
Yam
Peanut
Watermelon
Cabbage
Onion
Beans
Peas
Sunflower
Mango
Major and Minor Food Crops: Determined based on
the size of area planted (acres) and its contribution to human
calories
❖ Major Crops
worldwide
• Wheat
• Corn
• Rice
• Potatoes
• soybeans
❖ Minor Crops
• Other grains
• Vegetable
• Sugar
• Fruit
• Nuts
Food Crop Categories in U.S.
❖ Cereal grains
❖ corn, wheat, barley, rice, oat
❖ Uses: food and animal feed
❖ Oilseeds
❖ soybean, sunflower, canola, safflower,
flax, mustard, peanuts, cotton (fiber
mainly)
Food Crop Categories in U.S.
❖ Vegetables
❖ grown for fresh produce (many
processed)
❖ dry beans
❖Fruits and nuts
❖ citrus, non-citrus, and nuts
❖Sugar crops
❖ sugarbeet, sugarcane, corn, sorghum
Major Crop – Corn
❖ Domesticated in Mexico
❖ Types
• Dent (field corn)
• Flint
• Waxy
• Pop
• Sweet
Dent or Field Corn
• Major type that is grown in the US
https://www.google.com/search?q=dent+corn&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm
=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwja_-SohYDTAhUD2MKHUcHAAEQ_AUIBygC&biw=1280&bih=591#imgrc=Un6yUc4b55jIrM:
(Zea mays var. indentata) – it has yellow or white kernels that are
indented at the tip.
Uses of Dent Corn In The U.S. (2002)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Animal feed
Exports
Ethanol
High fructose
Starch
Sweeteners
Cereal/other
Alcohol
Seed
58%
19%
9.3%
5.6%
2.5%
2.2%
1.9%
1.4%
0.2%
http://www.ncga.com/03world/main/consumption.htm
Major Crop – Corn
❖ 80 million acres of dent corn harvested
for grain (#1 in U.S. for acres and value)
❖ US is a top exporter of corn
• It supplies 80% of the world’s corn
demand
❖ Why is there a gap between the acres planted and the acres harvested?
❖ What is the reason for the sudden increase on the area planted to corn from 2007-2008?
Corn price has an increasing trend!
Production:
Heartland region
• Illinois, Iowa, Indiana,
eastern portions of
South Dakota and
Nebraska, western
Kentucky and Ohio,
and the northern twothirds of Missouri
Top corn-producing States
• Iowa and Illinois (1/3 of
the U.S crop.)
IA, NE, SD, MN
Corn for Silage
❖ is fermented, high-moisture fodder that can
be used as forage for ruminant animals.
❖ Proper Fermentation Should yield Corn
Silage that have:
❖ light, pleasant smell (lightly vinegar odor)
❖ Slightly brown to dark green in color
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
2
6
4
3
5
1
Wisconsin
California
New York
Minnesota
Pennsylvania
California Corn Production
450000
Acres Harvested
400000
350000
300000
250000
200000
150000
100000
50000
Majority of CA corn grown for silage to support the
dairy industry (CA #1 state)
0
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
Grain
1998
1999
Silage
2000
2001
2002
Sweet Corn – (su) gene
❖ Prevents sugar
conversion to starch.
❖ Harvested 10 to 20
days after pollination
DON’T LET …..
Pollinate …..
US Statistics for Sweet Corn
Dec
trend
Data Items
2019
2018
2017
SWEET CORN – ACRES
390,700 474,100 464,600
HARVESTED
SWEET CORN – ACRES
406,400 495,600 484,800
PLANTED
SWEET CORN 652,057,00 864,064,0 892,179,0
PRODUCTION, MEASURED IN
00
00
0
$
SWEET CORN 73,459,70 75,674,40
PRODUCTION, MEASURED IN 62,966,000
0
0
CWT
SWEET CORN – YIELD,
154.9
162.9
161.2
MEASURED IN CWT / ACRE
SWEET CORN, PROCESSING 173,288,00 202,612,0 203,091,0
PRODUCTION, MEASURED IN
00
00
0
$
2016
478,400
498,300
870,621,0
00
72,637,00
0
151.8
216,780,0
00
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_Subject/result.php?1AB625B8-19CC-312D-ACF658D2EA98E806§or=CROPS&group=VEGETABLES&comm=SWEET%20CORN
Wheat
❖ Most widely distributed cultivated crop in the
world.
❖ There are about thousand varieties available
that are adapted to different climates.
❖ Contains protein (gluten).
❖ Used for leavened bread, pastas, cakes,
baked goods, cereals, etc.
U.S. Wheat Use
Livestock
feed, 10%
Seed, 5%
Exports, 50%
Food, 36%
Decreasing trends – planted & harvested area
Wheat
❖ First planted in the United States in 1777 as a hobby crop.
❖ US is one of the top wheat-producing country.
❖ Wheat ranks 3rd (after corn and soybeans) – area
planted
❖ Harvested area in the U.S. has reduced to almost 30
million acres, or nearly one-third, from its peak in 1981.
This is due to the decline in returns compared with other
crops and changes in government programs that allow
farmers more planting flexibility.
❖ Wheat is grown in 42 states in the United States.
❖ U.S. farmers grow nearly 2.4 billion bushels of wheat on 63
million acres of land. (Source: USDA)
Source: https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/wheat/
Facts about Wheat
❖ The state of Kansas is the largest
wheat producer in the United States
with North Dakota a close second.
❖ Kansas is number one in flour milling
in the United States
❖ Six classes bring order to the
thousands of varieties of wheat.
Classes and Uses of Wheat
1. Hard Red Winter Wheat (38% U.S.
market)
• hard endosperm, 10-13% protein
• used for making bread, all-purpose flour
• seeded in the fall and harvested the next
spring/summer
• mainly produced in the Great Plains between
the Mississippi and the Rockies (Kansas)
2. Hard Red Spring (22% U.S. acreage)
• hard endosperm, high protein (13-16%)
• Excellent for making bread
• Seeds are sown in April-May and harvested
in August
• Grown in Dakotas, Montana, Minnesota
3. Hard White Wheat (0.5% U.S. wheat
acreage)
• It has similar quality as the red winter
wheat type. They only differ in color.
• Both spring and winter types
• Used in yeast breads, flat breads, and
tortillas.
• Newly introduced class
4. Soft Red Winter Wheat (21% U.S.
acreage)
• soft endosperm, low protein (10%)
• used to make cakes, pastries, flat
breads
• grown east of the Mississippi River
(Ohio #1)
5. Soft White Wheat (13% U.S. acreage)
• soft endosperm, low protein (10%)
• used for cakes, pastries, flat breads
(preferred over soft red)
• grown mainly in the Pacific Northwest
6. Durum Wheat (5% U.S. acreage)
• hardest of all wheat classes
• used for making pasta products
• primarily grown in North Dakota
(~70%)
• spring seeded crop
Wheat field ready for harvesting ……
Information sources
World data on supply, demand, prices, acreage, sales:
o World agricultural supply & demand estimates – USDA
http://www.usda.gov/oce/commodity/wasde/latest.pdf
o World Agricultural Production (crop)- USDA
http://www.fas.usda.gov/wap/circular/2003/03-02/tables.html
o FAO Stats: http://faostat.fao.org/site/567/default.aspx#ancor
US data on crop production, sales, supply, acreage:
o http://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Crops_County/index.asp
o http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?doc
umentID=1047
o http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_Subject/index.php
o http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProdSu/CropProdSu01-12-2012.pdf
Biofuel Raises Food and Fuel Prices While Wasting Farmland
NAME
Email address
(1,024 words)
Page 1 of 5
The newspaper article “U.S. Biofuel, Trade, And Immigration Policies Hit Farmers Hard”
discusses some of the problems the agriculture industry has been facing as a result of the recent
increase in biofuel production. This article details the stresses put on the agriculture industry by
biofuel production and how it can increase food and fuel prices as a result. Biofuel production
has strained the agriculture industry, forcing it to convert cropland to make a profit in the biofuel
sector. This conversion is limiting the supply of corn that is used for food production; which as a
result is making food prices higher. Also, Biofuel is more expensive to produce, making fuel
prices grow as more and more is blended into fossil fuel.
The first point that the author brought up is that farmers have struggled with recent crop
price fluctuation as a result of increased biofuel production. Mrs. Jensen is correct when she
stated that, “The agriculture industry in the U.S. is going through one of the biggest changes in
the last 100 years as it enters the energy industry…” (Jensen, 2019). However, her article did
not cover the elements of why this new business sector has put farmers under so much pressure.
For centuries, farmers have been solely focused on feeding the world. They have devised a
system in which they can do so at a very reasonable cost. However, with the addition of this new
market that draws on existing stocks, we risk losing our food security. This loss of security can
be caused by land previously used for food production being converted into biofuel crops.
Another important point that Jensen brought up touches on the conversion of farmland
into energy production. “Strong market and policy incentives have led to an increased demand
for corn ethanol as a biofuel feedstock. To meet this demand, many famers have reallocated
their existing cropland into corn production.” (Jensen, 2019) This quote tells us that the market
and policy are what is driving this massive cropland conversion. With these government
subsidies, farmers have little choice but to divert at least a little piece of their operation to biofuel.
This would not be a problem if this was regulated properly. However, the government has offered
unlimited subsidies to guarantee future biofuel stocks to be plentiful (Rajagopal, Sexton,
Page 2 of 5
Hochman, Roland-Holst, & Zilberman, 2009). Before we get too far, I must explain that these
government subsidies do have a purpose. They were put into place to ensure that biofuel would
be blended into traditional fuels to lower the emissions of internal combustion engines (biofuels
burn cleaner than fossil fuels). However, when you look at the production of biofuel versus the
production of the more traditional fossil fuels, the former loses its appeal considerably. Biofuel
is made mostly from corn in the United states. It takes nearly ten percent more energy to produce
per unit than fossil fuels. When you look at what you get for this extra effort, you realize that you
are only getting one half of one percent less total emissions output. This is not a worthwhile gain
because the production produces more emissions than you are saving when it is burned
(Rajagopal, Sexton, Hochman, Roland-Holst, & Zilberman, 2009).
This article misses a very important argument against the production of biofuel. With the
advent of modern technology, there is no longer a need for biofuels. Soon enough, modern auto
makers will be forced into the electric vehicle market as battery technology improves.
Environmentalists have already forced lawmakers to pass laws and implement plans to get rid
of internal combustion engines. An example of the increased market demand for alternatives to
internal combustion engines can be found by the increase in electric vehicle production. Ford,
Chevy, Toyota, Dodge and many other have all made electric vehicles. The most successful of
all the electric vehicle manufactures is Tesla. Pretty soon, the technology will be inexpensive
enough for the middle class to obtain (H.-O.Günther, 2015). When that happens, the need for
all traditional fuel sources will be drastically reduced. As a result, it will no longer be necessary
to supplement the fuel supply with biofuel because the traditional fuels will be able to meet
demand. Also, gross emissions will go down even though biofuel aren’t being used due to fewer
total gallons being burned (less fuel used in total).
Another important critique of biofuel that Jensen missed is that the main source of it is
derived from corn. While corn is a wonderful medium to work with, it is by far the most over-used
agriculture product in the world. The following products are only a small fraction of what is
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actually made with corn products: Drywall, Adhesives, Cosmetics, Splenda, Hand Soap, Windex,
Varnish, and many, many more (Neal, January 18, 2015). These products are some of the more
surprising items with corn content; however, there are many more like them without even listing
food products! Most processed foods have corn or one of its derivatives in them. That equates
to nearly eighty percent of the items in the typical grocery store in the United States (Barone,
2011). This being the case, it is hard to justify straining corn supplies any further by making
biofuel with it (Barone, 2011).
In Conclusion, the author of U.S. Biofuel, Trade, And Immigration Policies Hit Farmers
Hard did a decent job of highlighting some of the issues of the production and usage of biofuel
on the mass- market. Jensen was able to discuss the reasons why cropland is being converted
for biofuel and why that is a major problem. Also, she was able to introduce how farmers were
being affected by the change in the market because of the introduction of biofuel. However, there
are some major holes in her article that needed to be addressed because biofuel is causing
more issues than it is solving. Biofuel has raised food prices because it lowers the availability of
already over-stretched corn production. Corn is the most used crop in the world, why would we
give it one more thing to do? This fuel source takes a lot of energy to produce, thus making its
“cleanliness” null and void because its production is dirtier than traditional fossil fuels (Rajagopal,
Sexton, Hochman, Roland-Holst, & Zilberman, 2009).
Works Cited
Barone, J. T. (2011, March 21). Biofuel targets pressure corn supplies. Nation’s Restaurant News, pp.
38-39.
H.-O.Günther, M. N. (2015, March 1). The role of electric vehicles for supply chain sustainability in the
automotive industry. Journal of Cleaner Production, pp. 220-233.
Jensen, A. (2019, July 19). U.S. Biofuel, Trade, And Immigration Policies Hit Farmers Hard. Chem.info,
1-2.
Neal, A. (January 18, 2015, January 18). Cheat Sheet. Retrieved March 16, 2019
Rajagopal, D., Sexton, S., Hochman, G., Roland-Holst, D., & Zilberman, D. (2009, October 1). Model
estimates food-versus-biofuel trade-off. CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE , pp. 199-201.
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