The survival of the human species is linked to the exploitation of natural resources, as there is no other known way to provide the essential heat, energy, and food. There has been a great deal of debate regarding how this exploitation can occur, since to exist, organisms need to intervene in natural systems. A superficial analysis might suggest that an irreconcilable dichotomy has been created. Such reasoning may lead to extreme attitudes where, on one side there is the irresponsi­ble use of natural resources, and on the other, the discourse suggesting that nature could be so much better off without the human presence on earth.

The state of well-being achieved by modern societies has increased the rate of unsustainable exploitation of the planet’s resources. Our technological choices are based on our understanding that nature’s capacity to provide for what we con­sider to be our needs is unlimited. It follows then that an alternative path must be designed so that those technological choices lead to a process of sustainable exploitation of natural resources. After all we are the only species on the planet that is endowed with a capacity for awareness that is sufficient not only to under­stand and evaluate our own destructive power, but also with the intelligence required to minimize it.

Therefore, it seems appropriate to move toward new productive systems, whether agricultural or industrial, where growth and development can be achieved without the opposition between capital and nature. For this to happen, we must overcome the economic, social, and political challenges that the technological solutions present.

Thus, understanding the relationships between the natural and social environ­ment seems to be the way forward in the search for a solution to the problems that challenge the planet, since it is from within this society that the answers to those challenges will emerge. However, we must avoid believing in a panacea, since there is no single “cure” that can be used to solve modern problems, as there is an intricate set of social, economic, and ecological relationships. As Hippocrates said: “Disease is the result of the airs, waters and places.”

There is insufficient space to address all these issues in a single book, so we have chosen just one path, that of energy. This choice is justified by its importance as a factor in development and its condition as one of the key elements in the inter­action between society and nature. The production and use of energy determine numerous impacts on the planet and on societies. While it may be an indicator of well-being, its effects may be adverse (Dincer 2002).

Among the adverse effects of the current methods of obtaining and using energy one can include the environmental impacts, price fluctuations, geopoliti­cal risks, and the risks of its nonavailability. Because of these effects, there has been growing interest in the search for alternatives to current patterns of produc­tion and consumption of energy throughout the world (Holdren 2006; Hanegraaf 1998). Within the energy sector worldwide, experts have addressed a number of issues, among them one can mention the research into conversion technologies as applied to different inputs in order to produce liquid and gaseous fuels, and into geographical organization for the production of food and energy.

Among the various studies of note, that by David Tilmann (2009) highlights the trilemma of the plant-derived fuel production systems. What he refers to as the trilemma is the need to simultaneously attend the requirements for food, fiber, and renewable fuels. Based on this trilemma and by analyzing initiatives from around the world, one possible conclusion is that with the current level of use of the tech­nologies and services available it will be impossible to reverse the rate of exploita­tion of the resources required to meet our energy needs according to the criteria of social, economic, and environmental sustainability, considering the rate of world population growth and its impact on the volume of resources that will be required to meet those needs.

Inspired by these issues and based on the structuring of energy matrices in dif­ferent countries, this book deals with different aspects of the production and use of liquid biofuels, derived from the production and conversion of biomass. Among the primary sources of energy, biomass has come to occupy a growing place in the energy mix worldwide. The concept of biomass can be understood as refer­ring to all living matter on earth that is capable of storing solar energy (Taylor 2008; Goyal et al. 2008). Many researchers consider biomass to be a source capa­ble of contributing to the energy needs of both developed and developing societies (Berndes et al. 2003).

Around the world, different arrangements for the production of bioenergy are being developed, with multiple integrated technologies that either benefit from the concentrated supply of inputs produced in large scale or take advantage of the small-scale production of inputs at the local level. These trends present us with the challenge to find the most efficient use for the natural inputs available.

From a demand and supply perspective, it should be noted that bioenergy is coming to be seen as a priority on the international agenda, with the use of liq­uid biofuels constituting a key strategy in the attempt to meet both the demand for environmental sustainability and the energy needs of countries. The growth in the production and use of biofuels around the world has led to increased interest and discussion on the subject, lending greater importance to related studies and research, as is the case with this book.

Without claiming to be exhaustive, this book provides a critical and plural dis­cussion of the major issues being raised in the context of research and policies and the alternatives that are being outlined regarding the insertion of bioenergy in the energy matrices of several countries. In this sense the book provides a multidisci­plinary and integrated view of the debate on the emergence and diffusion of the liquid biofuels as an energy source, bringing together different elements, such as public policy, industry organization, and the sustainability of different systems for the production of liquid biofuels and technology. The discussion on these different aspects will be illustrated by biofuel researchers and practitioners from a range countries that produce and consume biofuels.

In this book the reader will find that biofuel production, analyzed in relation to its institutional, economic, technological, and environmental aspects, is presented in two parts. The first, consisting of eight chapters, deals with the economic and environmental aspects. The second part of the book, consisting of four chapters, presents and discusses the technological issues. Importantly, almost all the chap­ters include discussions on the institutional aspects related to biofuel, especially the issue of regulation imposed by governments in order to strategically control the production and distribution of biofuels.

In compiling this book, our intention was to address the main issues and key challenges related to the production and consumption of bioenergy. When the call was issued to researchers from around the world, our main objective was to seek out different perspectives and analyses on the subject, while identifying points of convergence and divergence among several different research centers around the globe.

We hope that this book serves as a “must-read” reference for all those involved in biofuel-related research. We feel sure that it contains valuable material for the library of any biofuel researcher, practitioner, and/or educator. In selecting the contents, we have attempted to provide material that will be of interest to both those with experience in the field of biofuel and those who are setting out to dis­cover its relevance.

“Economic Issues in the Liquid Biofuels Industry” discusses the market distor­tions that occur when the production costs of the first generation of biofuels com­pared with those of fossil fuels. In doing so, the relationship between the energy market and the agricultural market is emphasized. The relationship between bio­fuels and the agriculture and energy markets is dealt with from three perspectives: energy security risk; reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; and rural develop­ment. “A Comparison Between Ethanol and Biodiesel Production: The Brazilian and European Experiences” spotlights the Brazilian ethanol and European bio­diesel scene in terms of the policies adopted and their production, supply and demand, as well as the environmental impacts of these biofuels.

“Global Market Issues in the Liquid Biofuels Industry” discusses issues such as the supply, demand, exports, imports, prices, and future perspectives of the global market for ethanol and biodiesel by focusing on Brazil and the United States. Both countries are of great importance in the global biofuel market both in terms of their respective production capacities and as consumer markets. “The Biofuel Industry Concentration in Brazil Between 2005 and 2012” deals with the growth and concentration of production capacity in the Brazilian biofuels industry.

“Calculation of Raw Material Prices and Conversion Costs for Biofuels” takes a closer look at the discussion regarding the raw materials in the first generation bio­fuels, by presenting a forecast of raw material prices, simulating the likely effects on production costs of the economies of scale obtained from scaling-up produc­tion and from technological learning. An analysis is provided of various scenarios in which different biofuels and fossil fuels are compared. Regarding raw materi­als for the production of biodiesel, two chapters present and discuss alternatives to the traditional oilseeds used in biodiesel production, though with an organizational and economic focus. “Governance of Biodiesel Production Chain: An Analysis of Palm Oil Social Arrangements” deals with the governance structure of the biodiesel production chain in Brazil from a social perspective by focusing on the relation­ship between the farmers and the palm oil industry. “An Economic Assessment of Second-Generation Liquid Fuels Production Possibilities” provides an economic assessment of the possibility of producing the second generation biofuels, more spe­cifically bioethanol production from lignocellulosic materials in the United States.

“Environmental Issues in the Liquid Biofuels Industry” completes the first part of the book and deals with the environmental issues involved in the liquid biofuels industry, presenting the different generations of biofuels and discussing them in relation to their Tailpipe Emissions, life cycle, Ecological Footprint, and Climate Threats and Technological Opportunities.

The second part of the book addresses the technological aspects of biofuel pro­duction. The chapters within it highlight the different types of technologies used in biofuel production and the use of new materials such as algae, oleaginous organ­isms, and waste polymers. Accordingly, “Application of Analytical Chemistry in the Production of Liquid Biofuels” discusses the use of chemical analysis in the production of biofuels with respect to the evaluation of the quality and chemical composition of the raw materials and all materials and by-products in the produc­tion process. Also related to the use of chemistry in the production of biofuels, “Technical Barriers to Advanced Liquid Biofuels Production via Biochemical Route” deals with the technical barriers to advanced liquid biofuel production via the biochemical route, focusing on second and third generation feedstocks.

The chapters that follow focus on the use of new raw materials for the produc­tion of biofuels as alternatives to mitigate the problems and limitations posed by the use of the raw materials of agricultural origin used in the first generation of biofuels. “New Frontiers in the Production of Biodiesel: Biodiesel Derived from Macro and Microorganisms” highlights the state of the art and the main character­istics of the oil and biodiesel provided by macroorganisms (insects) and microor­ganisms (bacteria, filamentous fungi, and yeasts). “Algae: Advanced Biofuels and Other Opportunities” looks into the use of algae as an alternative source of biofu­els, presenting a review of microalgae cultivation (species, usage, processes, and culture), while highlighting the advantages and challenges of algae-based biofuel. The last chapter is not directly concerned with biofuels, as it focuses on another possible alternative, liquid fuels from waste polymers, thus opening another possi­ble route for the production of alternative fuels to petroleum, and potentially mini­mizing the environmental impact by using industrial waste from various industries.

Acknowledgments We are very grateful for the support and contribution of so many authoritative biofuel researchers and practitioners in writing chapters for this book. We extend a special thanks to Springer’s publication team for their encouragement, help, and patience in compiling this book.