Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture No. 4/07
Competition between agricultural and renewable energy production
Birger Kerckow
Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V., Gülzow, Germany
Abstract
So far only a small part of agricultural production is devoted to
bioenergy. Rising oil prices, security of supply concerns and climate
change are the reasons that simultaneously many countries envisage
strong increases in bioenergy and especially biofuels. Land use for
bioenergy will increase from currently 1% to 10% and more of the global
arable land, and biofuels may provide 10% and more of the world
transport fuel demand. Energy demand will contribute to a stabilisation
of deflated agricultural commodity prices. Food and bioenergy needs can
be satisfied at the same time, but significant R&D efforts in
agronomy, technology and economy will be needed to ensure efficient,
sustainable land use.
Keywords: biofuels, bioenergy, potentials, food security
JEL: Q 42
Vol. 46 (2007), No. 4: 333-347