Fuel for Thought Fuel that made from biological materials such as plants and animals is defined as biofuel. “Fuel for thought-All biofuels are not created equal”, is an article written by David Tillman and Jason Hill. This article describes how biofuel has made a complete circle from when it was first introduced 100 years ago. In the beginning hay and oats were our first transportation biofuels. These in turn were replaced by gasoline. In present day biodiesel from soybeans and ethanol from corn have started taking the place of diesel and gas. Switching to ethanol and biodiesel has been something of a positive as it helps reduce the threat of climate change and ease dependence on foreign oil. The downside, however, is that we are in conflict with some of our most important needs: food, energy, and a livable environment. (Hill) We are now coming into problems finding and providing answers to the food, fuel, and environment dilemma. If properly produced there are biofuels that can provide climate friendly energy. The difficulty is figuring out where and how to grow them. Our most abundant lands are being used for food production. As demand for energy and food inflates, competition for rich fertile lands could possibly increase food prices and force some of the poorer people into

starvation. There is also the threat of extinction of many different plants and animals.
Rainforests and other eco systems would potentially be destroyed to make room for new farms.
We will never find a solution until we comprehend the intertwined problems the world is facing.
Food based biofuels can potentially provide us with cleaner energy, however due to the way it is currently made, only a very small percentage is actually making a positive impact. There is also the other problem of rising food costs. This is not only affecting how people are able to feed their livestock but themselves as well.
As far as the environmental impact is concerned all biofuels are different. At the end of the day ethanol is ethanol. Ethanol made from different plants, food and new land it is grown on has variable effects on greenhouse gases. In order to help us find balance with food, energy, and a sustainable environment, we need to implement a national biofuels policy that has everyone’s best interest at heart. There is technology that we can use to figure out carbon impacts of different methods of making biofuels. We must then regulate the fuel blending that obtains greenhouse-gas reduction.

Work Cited
Tillman, David and Hill, Jason “Fuel for thought All biofuels are not created equal.” The Seattle Times. 15 April 2007. Web. 27 March. 2015