

The Top Five Biofuel Crops
Maize / Corn (1/5)
Major cultivation region: United States
Worldwide production in 2006/07: 702 million tons
Sustainability:
- needs lots of fertilizers and water
- biofuel production increases prices for milk, meat, and corn products
- energy balance: low efficiency, might produce more CO2 than the use of bioethanol would prevent
(Photo: Reuters)
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Maize / Corn (1/5)
Major cultivation region: United States
Worldwide production in 2006/07: 702 million tons
Sustainability:
- needs lots of fertilizers and water
- biofuel production increases prices for milk, meat, and corn products
- energy balance: low efficiency, might produce more CO2 than the use of bioethanol would prevent
(Photo: Reuters)


The Top Five Biofuel Crops
Rapeseed / Canola (2/5)
Major cultivation regions: European Union, China, Canada, India
Worldwide production in 2006: 46 million tons
Sustainability:
+ not a food crop: does not disturb markets
- needs fertilizers, water, good soils, and subsidies
- energy balance: producing rapeseed biodiesel might produce more CO2 than consuming biodiesel prevents
(Photo: Reuters)
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Rapeseed / Canola (2/5)
Major cultivation regions: European Union, China, Canada, India
Worldwide production in 2006: 46 million tons
Sustainability:
+ not a food crop: does not disturb markets
- needs fertilizers, water, good soils, and subsidies
- energy balance: producing rapeseed biodiesel might produce more CO2 than consuming biodiesel prevents
(Photo: Reuters)


The Top Five Biofuel Crops
Sugar Cane (3/5)
Major cultivation region: Brazil
Worldwide production in 2006: 1.3 million tons
Sustainability:
+ energy balance: high energy output
+ no subsidies needed
- expanding production endangers rainforests
(Photo: Reuters)
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Sugar Cane (3/5)
Major cultivation region: Brazil
Worldwide production in 2006: 1.3 million tons
Sustainability:
+ energy balance: high energy output
+ no subsidies needed
- expanding production endangers rainforests
(Photo: Reuters)


The Top Five Biofuel Crops
Palm Oil (4/5)
Major cultivation regions: Indonesia, Malaysia
Worldwide production in 2006: 33.3 million tons
Sustainability:
+ energy balance: relatively high energy output, biomass can be used to fuel extraction process
- staple food: biodiesel production increases prices
- clearing of rainforest to create new plantations
- often exported to Europe and United States: transport requires energy and creates emissions
(Photo: Reuters)
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Palm Oil (4/5)
Major cultivation regions: Indonesia, Malaysia
Worldwide production in 2006: 33.3 million tons
Sustainability:
+ energy balance: relatively high energy output, biomass can be used to fuel extraction process
- staple food: biodiesel production increases prices
- clearing of rainforest to create new plantations
- often exported to Europe and United States: transport requires energy and creates emissions
(Photo: Reuters)


The Top Five Biofuel Crops
Jatropha (5/5)
Major cultivation regions: India, Myanmar, Mali, Philippines
Worldwide production in 2006: not known
Sustainability:
+ sturdy, undemanding crop: needs little water or fertilizers
+ high yield, easy extraction process
- not easy to harvest, labor intensive
(Photo: Reuters)
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Jatropha (5/5)
Major cultivation regions: India, Myanmar, Mali, Philippines
Worldwide production in 2006: not known
Sustainability:
+ sturdy, undemanding crop: needs little water or fertilizers
+ high yield, easy extraction process
- not easy to harvest, labor intensive
(Photo: Reuters)
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