Summaries of Analyses in 2008 of Biofuels Policies by International and European Technical Agencies

Tim Searchinger, 2009

Content

• succinct summary of 10 studies

Findings

High level of agreement among studies

• limited potential to increase world energy supplies and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• more expensive than other methods of reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• direct and indirect land use changes threaten to eliminate or greatly reduce greenhouse gas benefits
• biofuels have contributed significantly to crop price increases
• biomass is better used for electricity production than for biofuels

Comment

• biofuels are not a panacea – neither for energy security nor for the environment nor for farm incomes