Land Use, Sustainability and Greenhouse Gases

Reports in Science Magazine claim that increased production of ethanol is causing greenhouse gas emissions to increase due to dramatic land conversion. Is that true?

No. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the studies in Science Magazine were unsubstantiated by independent modeling work, and rely on many erroneous or extreme assumptions, such as stating that the United States will widely use CRP land for biofuels production. In fact, most of the CRP land is unsuitable for any kind of agricultural use.

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Time Magazine reports that ethanol production is forcing farmers to cut down the Brazilian rainforest so they can grow more crops. Is that true?

No. While ethanol production is reaching record highs, deforestation is dramatically decreasing. According to the National Institute of Space Research, deforestation in the Amazon has decreased by two-thirds since 2004. Most reports that claim biofuels are forcing the destruction of rainforests are based on outdated studies discredited by scientific reviewers.

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