Scientific Results Presented at 2013 ASA Annual Meeting Indicated: The Environmental Benefits of Biofuels Are Much More than We Had Thought

Agriculture (USDA)Farming/Growing Federal Agency/Executive Branch Feedstock Feedstocks Field/Orchard/Plantation Crops/Residues Florida Forestry/Wood/Residues/Waste Infrastructure Original Writing, Opinions Advanced Biofuels USA Other Conferences/Events Presentations R & D Focus Resources Sustainability

December 31, 2013

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by Danilo Gusmão de Quadros* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The substitution of fossil fuels by advanced biofuels per se has a huge impact on the environment through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, consequently mitigating global warming effects by the transportation sector. However, the environmental benefits of the substitution are much more comprehensive according to recent scientific results presented at the 2013 American Society of Agronomy (ASA) Annual Meeting.
From November 3^rd to 6^th at Conventional Center and Marriot Westside beside the beautiful landscape of Tampa harbor, the 2013 Annual Meeting of ASA, joined with the Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America for a conference with the theme: “water, food, energy and innovation for a sustainable world”.
Being the most important scientific meeting of the year in the USA about agriculture, it was a huge congress with more than 4,000 attendees including scientists, professionals, educators, and students. Many themes, from food production and soil science to plant nutrition and water management, were covered in symposiums, plenaries, oral, and poster presentations highlighting the interface between bioenergy and the environment.
People seemed to be very interested in participating in many discussions, extending their participation into the night at the poster presentation which had the presence of many attendees. This was the opportunity to get to know each other and have interaction.
When agronomists come together to discuss bioenergy, often the issue of food security arises. Concerns about converting food crops to biofuel crops and their effects on market prices are some of the main worries. In fact, biodiesel based on edible oils and ethanol based on corn may affect availability and, consequently, prices. However, today we have technology to have both: food and fuel. The alternatives already known can be highly beneficial in many aspects without affecting the food chain. The conversion of reusable oil to biodiesel and ligno-celulosic-based biofuels are good examples of how technology could change the world without increasing food prices.
What we could see in this congress were affirmative and concrete scientific results showing direct and indirect benefits from biofuels production, beyond the economic enhancement that could be achieved when, among other things, marginal lands are incorporated into the biofuels-based-on-feedstocks system.
Better crop practices have been studied to reduce nutrient removal and to increase soil organic matter. The main environmental points to take into consideration are: water recharge and quality, biodiversity, nutrient cycling, greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon sequestration.
Biochar had great space in the congress and showed its highly relevant role in sustainable biofuel production systems. Its application can bring many benefits. Among them: water retention, carbon sequestration, and nutrient interactions.
Below are listed links and themes for more information about the works presented at the congress.
With regard to the organizational format of the congress, I would prefer to have, instead of punctual works with specific results in each interesting theme, a broader review presented by a specialist comparing many papers and summarizing the conclusions.
Another thing to make it easier for attendees and for people who will search on line is to reduce the number of sessions (originally around 400), because we had too much overlap in themes, resulting in some works related to bioenergy presented in other sessions.
It would also be useful to have extended abstracts (3-4 pages) online, not just abstracts. These points increase the value of articles like this and of our interviews. Enjoy!
*Dan Quadros is a Research Scholar at the University of Florida and Volunteer at Advanced Biofuels USA: E-mail: daniloquadros@hotmail.com

To learn more about bioenergy research and education, cellulosic-based biofuels and biochar from a scientific point of view, listen to this exclusive interview with Dr. Kurt Spokas conducted by Dan Quadros, to Advanced Biofuels USA.
Dr. Spokas works at the US Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service. Also, he is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Minnesota. He is one of the most important American scientists when the subject is biochar. He was Chair for the ASA Biochar Community in this meeting. His research focus is the impact of management practices on the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and other greenhouse gases in agricultural systems; the potential role of biochar application in improving soil fertility with an emphasis on the resulting net greenhouse gas balance; development of farming practices to improve water quality; and improving mathematical modeling of methane oxidation in soils to improve regional greenhouse gas inventories.

1 – How do you evaluate the importance of bioenergy area at this meeting?

2 – How can the production and utilization of renewable fuels be increased in the US?

3 – In addition to ethanol based on corn, what are the best feedstocks and conversion process options for advanced biofuels in the US?

4 – What will it take for cellulosic-based biofuel to become a reality?

5 - What is your opinion about the lack between cutting-edge research and bioenergy education in USA?

6 – About biochar, is there economic viability for its application in agriculture?

7 – Based on your long and deep experience in this area, what are the soil effects of biochar application?

8 – And how about environmental effects?

To understand more about advanced biofuels based on feedstocks and the relationship with the environment listen to Dr. Dennis Ojima’s exclusive interview for Advanced Biofuels USA conducted by Dan Quadros.
He presented at the ASA meeting his cutting-edge research about environmental impacts of biofuels crops, mainly using low input perennial grasses in marginal lands. Dr Ojima is Professor in the Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Department and Senior Research Scientist in the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory in the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University and a Senior Scholar at the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment. His research addresses climate and land use changes on ecosystems, carbon sequestration, and adaptation and mitigation strategies to climate change.
He is an Aldo Leopold Leadership Fellow and has received recognition for his international contributions for his involvement in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, receiving the 2005 Zayed International Prize for the Environment and the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2007 Nobel Peace Prize

1-What are the benefits of biofuel production based on biomass from economic and social perspectives?

2 – Could you list direct and indirect environmental effects of fossil fuels substitution by biofuels?

3 – Could you describe, based on your research, the impacts of converting traditional crops in biofuels crops on the environment?

4 – Could carbon storage be listed as an important benefit of this conversion?

5 – The use of cellulosic-based biofuel production has not yet reached the amounts predicted in the Energy Independent Security Act, 2007. In your point of view, what happened?

6 – How do you see the future of cellulosic-based biofuel in the USA?

7 – The Government seems to be applied in get advanced biofuels from cellulosic sources, however the funds for research have been reduced. As a recognized scientist, how do you see this paradigm?

Theme: Bioenergy systems
Focus: Biofuel crops, agronomic characteristics, environmental impacts and cultivation practices
Link: https://scisoc.confex.com/crops/2013am/webprogram/Session11335.html
Link: https://scisoc.confex.com/crops/2013am/webprogram/Session11336.html

Theme: Bioenergy crops, biomass production, and soil and environmental quality
Focus: How production and harvest of bioenergy crops will affect environmental quality.
Link: https://scisoc.confex.com/crops/2013am/webprogram/Session11226.html

Theme: Bioenergy production and environmental consequences
Focus: How production and harvest of bioenergy crops will affect environmental quality.
Link: https://scisoc.confex.com/crops/2013am/webprogram/Session11225.html

Theme: Impact of bioenergy systems on soil carbon changes and greenhouse gas fluxes
Focus: Soil carbon dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions from bioenergy management systems.
Link: https://scisoc.confex.com/crops/2013am/webprogram/Session11214.html
Link: https://scisoc.confex.com/crops/2013am/webprogram/Session11211.html

Theme: Integration of perennials to enhance agroecosystem services and provide renewable energy sources
Focus: Integrating row crops and perennial grass such as switch grass, miscanthus, etc. as feedstock for energy source and enhance soil quality, wildlife habitat, water quality, etc. This will change the existing cropping system paradigm to utilize marginal land or highly erodible soil on field and landscape level for perennials, and reduce the effect and stress of row cropping systems on natural resources and reduce reliance on crop residue such as corn for cellulosic ethanol production as it is taking place in the Midwest currently.
Link: https://scisoc.confex.com/crops/2013am/webprogram/Session11219.html

Theme: Biochar: agronomic and environmental uses
Focus: Agronomic and environmental uses of biochar.
Link: https://scisoc.confex.com/crops/2013am/webprogram/Session11477.html
Link: https://scisoc.confex.com/crops/2013am/webprogram/Session11476.html

Theme: Biochar effects on soil nutrients, plant growth and agronomic yields
Focus: The theme of this topical session is to present results on field, lab, and greenhouse scale studies on the impact of biochar additions on crop productivity and yield. In addition, studies that focus on soil nutrient availability, leaching, or retention are also welcome in this session due to their direct implications on agronomic productivity. The goal is to improve our understanding of biochar interactions with agronomic production.
Link: https://scisoc.confex.com/crops/2013am/webprogram/Session11324.html

Theme: Interactions between soil biotic communities and biochar: implications for plant health, nutrient cycling and environmental quality.
Focus: Interaction of microbial communities with black C or biochar. Effects of biochar on plant disease suppression, mycorrhizal colonization, the legume/rhizobium symbiosis and other plant/microbe interactions.
Link: https://scisoc.confex.com/crops/2013am/webprogram/Session11772.html
Link: https://scisoc.confex.com/crops/2013am/webprogram/Session11773.html