Biomass: fuel versus food, a world problem?

Abstract

The overuse and undersupply of biomass is currently a serious problem and potentially a greater danger than ready lack of food. Today 14% of the world’s primary energy is derived from biomass — equivalent to 20m barrels oil/day. Predominant use is in the rural areas of developing countries where half the world’s population lives, e.g. Nepal and Ethiopia derive nearly all, Kenya 3/4, India 1/2, China 1/3, Brazil 1/4 and Egypt and Morroco 1/5 of their total energy from biomass. A number of developed countries also derive a considerable amount of energy from biomass, e.g. Sweden 15% and USA, Canada and Australia 3%. A number of European-wide studies have shown that about 5 to 10% of Europe’s energy requirements could be met from biomass by the end of the century. An especially valuable contribution could be in the form of liquid fuels which have become so prone to fluctuating price and supply. Individual countries in Europe could provide up to half of their energy requirements from biomass if so desired. The resources available, the effect of agricultural surpluses and the factors which will influence biomass energy schemes are currently hotly debated.

Worldwide government expenditure on biomass energy systems is over $2bn. a year. However, biomass energy is not necessarily the panacea to any country’s energy problems even though at present the process of photosynthesis produces an amount of stored energy in the form of biomass which is almost 10× the world’s annual use of energy.

The world produces 10–20% more food than is required to feed its 4.5 billion people an adequate diet. In N. America and Europe the main problem with food is its easy over-production and general over-consumption. However, there are an estimated 450m undernourished people, mostly in Asia and Africa. Simplistically, if available food production was increased by 1.5% (equivalent to about 25mt of grains) and if this food was distributed equitably to those who need it, there would be no undernourished people in the world. The same argument applies if only 10% of the developed countries’ grain production was diverted away from animals to humans. Health authorities have recommended lower meat consumption in the USA and UK; these and other diet and biotechnological changes will have long-term socio-economic consequences which are already underway.

The question is how to achieve both food and biomass fuel production locally on a sustainable basis. Both are required — thus planning and provision of the appropriate infrastructure and incentives must be provided. Increased support of R&D, training and firm establishment of top priority to agriculture and forestry are essential in many countries of the world — if necessary, with significant help from abroad.