Douglas L. Karlen1, Marcelo Valadares Galdos2,

Sarita Candida Rabelo2, Henrique Continho Junqueira Franco2,
Antonio Bonomi2, Jihong Li3, Shi-Zhong Li3,

Jaya Shankar Tumuluru4, and Leslie Ovard4

INational Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, USDA Agricultural
Research Service, U. S.A.

2Brazilian Bioethanol Science and Technology Laboratory (CTBE)/Brazilian Center of Research in
Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Brazil

3MOST-USDA Joint Research Center for Biofuels, Institute of New Energy Technology,
Tsinghua University, China

4Biofuels and Renewable Energy Technologies, Idaho National Laboratory, U. S.A.

18.4 Overview

Plant biomass has been recognized globally as an important link to a sustainable energy future because it can be grown universally and converted into liquid transportation fuels or other material through biochemical, thermochemical, or catalytic conversion processes. However, those potential benefits must be viewed in the context of other global societal needs (i. e., food, feed, fiber, potable water, carbon storage in ecosystems, and preservation of native habitats and biodiversity) that must also be met by plant biomass growing on a finite amount of arable land. The development of cellulosic feedstocks for biofuels and other bioproducts must be accomplished in an economically viable, environmentally benign, and socially sustainable manner. This task is feasible throughout the world, as illustrated by examples from Brazil, China, and India.

Cellulosic Energy Cropping Systems, First Edition. Edited by Douglas L. Karlen. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Published 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In Brazil, the primary cellulosic feedstock will be the straw and bagasse from the sugarcane industry. Traditionally, the straw was burned prior to harvest but increasing public concern has resulted in a phasing out of burning throughout the main sugarcane-growing regions of the country. Efforts to develop economically viable second generation ethanol production using these materials have been supported by investments from the Brazilian government through new research institutions, such as the Brazilian Bioethanol Science and Technology Laboratory (CTBE) and Embrapa Agroenergy. National and state research funding agencies as well as the Brazilian Bank for Economic and Social Development have also provided support for these endeavors.

In China, mandates that bioenergy production must not compete with food or feed production and must not inflict harm on the environment are key drivers in the development of this new industry. Crop residues and some plantation agriculture on marginal land are being explored but currently sweet sorghum has been identified as the best candidate for biofuel production. Similarly, in India, where 70% of the population depends on agriculture for its livelihood, bioenergy production must not have any negative impacts on food supplies or the overall economic welfare of Indians.

Undoubtedly, many similar and perhaps some divergent examples could be given by including perspectives from other countries, but that was beyond the scope of this book. The important perspective from this work is to recognize that Cellulosic Bioenergy Cropping Systems have both universal and site-specific characteristics that need to be fully vetted and understood to have truly sustainable food, feed, fiber, and fuel production throughout the world.