Warning on danger of biofuels


October 4, 2007

ENVIRONMENTAL hopes for biofuels as an alternative to fossil fuels are
premature, if not misplaced, a scientist at the Greenhouse 2007
conference says.

Many of the plants being promoted as biofuel "miracle plants" were
weeds that would create ecological devastation, said Tim Low, the
co-author of a report released yesterday.

"This is just like the hype that went into cane toads in the 1930s,"
Mr Low said. "It doesn't have any proven value as an agricultural crop."

He said seven plants that have been deemed "promising" biofuel plants
were already banned in Australia, and two of those - jatropha and
spartina - featured on an international list of the world's 30 worst
invasive plants.

Jatropha has attracted international attention in the biofuel
industry, while spartina is the subject of trials in South Australia.

Jatropha, spartina and other biofuel plants overtake native
vegetation, reduce habitats for native animals and ultimately spark a
loss of biodiversity, he said.

Mr Low said the technology to convert the plants into ethanol was also
of questionable environmental efficiency, and his report noted much of
the land used for biofuel plants came at the expense of land used for
food, which was required by the world's growing population.

The report by the non-governmental Invasive Species Council did not
preclude all hopes for biofuel. "We believe that biofuels could
eventually play a role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but this
should not be at the expense of Australia's biodiversity or
agriculture," it said.

Conrad Walters

http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/warning-on-danger-of-biofuels/2007/10/03/\
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