Diverse Crops Better for Sustainable Biofuel Production
Shifting more acreage to corn production may not be the best way to meet increasing renewable fuel production requirements, researchers at Michigan State University and the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center are finding. Growing a variety of different crops is key to promoting and sustaining beneficial insects, limiting harmful pests, and reducing pesticide costs and crop damage. From 2006 to 2007, corn acreage increased 19 percent. The researchers found that by increasing corn acreage, fewer beneficial insects were available to control pests. Natural biological pest control services were lost. The research team estimates the value of these lost services across the four-state region studied to be about $58 million. The findings point toward developing more ecologically diverse biomass feedstocks for energy production. Read More
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