Web exclusive posted Nov. 17, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. CST 
 
 The Renewable Fuels Association has released a 14-page report aimed at providing a thorough argument against the inclusion of indirect land use considerations in the U.S. EPA's forthcoming policy proposal for implementation of the renewable fuels standard (RFS) as required by the Energy Information and Security Act of 2007. 
 
 The report, <a href="http://www.ethanolrfa.org/objects/documents/2041/final_land_use_1110_w_execsumm.pdf">"Understanding Land Use Change and U.S. Ethanol Expansion"</a> offers an historical perspective on global and U.S. agricultural land use and details how ethanol production has impacted grain use in the United States. The report concluded that the calculation of indirect land use changes is not only complex, but unrealistic when it comes to biofuels. The report stated that those who would prefer to include such considerations are basing their theories on "unsupported assumptions, imprecise economic models and questionable logic." Rather, the report continued, "there is no empirical evidence demonstrating land conversion abroad is a result of U.S. biofuels production."
 

 The report listed several factors that should be considered when determining the causes of both direct and indirect land use changes, including:
 	<ul><li>Biofuel production uses a minimal amount of farmland</li>
 	<li>Agricultural productivity around the globe is increasing to meet the rising demand</li>
 	<li>There are significant amounts of arable farmland yet to be utilized for crop production</li>
 	<li>Coproducts, such as distillers grains, should be considered as land use "credits"</li>
 	<li>Land use changes are the result of many factors around the world</li></ul>
 

 Information from studies and findings by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, the U.S. DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the USDA and other organizations was compiled for use in the RFA's report.

RFA releases report denouncing indirect land use

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Upcoming Events

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2026 International Biomass Conference & Expo

RFA releases report denouncing indirect land use