Michigan Tech Leads International Study of Social, Environmental Impacts of Biofuel Production
by Jennifer Donovan (Michigan Tech News) Is it possible to develop and produce biofuels in a sustainable way, without harming people or the environment? What policies need to be put in place to help that happen?
Nearly three dozen researchers from four countries—including 15 from Michigan Tech—will spend the next 5 years and $4.81 million of new National Science Foundation (NSF) funding trying to answer those questions. The grant is from NSF’s Partnerships in International Research and Education (PIRE) program.
Scientists from the US, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, led by Professor Kathleen Halvorsen (Social Sciences/SFRES), will join forces on the multinational study. They will analyze of the impacts of biofuel development on society and the environment. Their aim is to design regional, national and international policies to promote sustainable biofuel development and minimize its negative effects.
…The study will focus on biofuels produced from forests or impacting forests through conversion of forest land to agricultural crops. READ MORE



