Biofuel plant species can turn aggressive, researchers warn

By Helen Altonn

Biofuel crops being promoted and planted as a "green" renewable solution to
energy needs might actually be aggressive invasive pests, caution University of
Hawaii-Manoa researchers.

They did weed risk assessments to compare invasion risks of 40 biofuel crops
proposed for Hawaii versus a random sample of 40 introduced non-biofuel plant
species.

The researchers found 70 percent of proposed biofuel crops have a high risk of
becoming invasive and are two to four times more likely to establish wild
populations when compared with other introduced plants.

The assessments, funded by the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, included a
plant's biology, geographic origin, pest status elsewhere and information
published on its behavior in Hawaii.

The findings, "Assessing Biofuel Crop Invasiveness: A Case Study," are reported
in the journal PLoS ONE, a Public Library of Science resource.

"You can have a plant that's beneficial and invasive," said Christopher
Buddenhagen, who conducted the study with Charles Chimera and Patti Clifford in
the UH-Manoa Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit.

"It might make money but invade a natural area and have an impact."

For example, he pointed to jatropha curcas, "supposedly a miracle plant ... It's
supposed to be really productive for biodiesel and easy to grow." But the seeds
are toxic and it's considered invasive in other parts of the world, he said.

Buddenhagen, who recently left UH to join SWCA Environmental Consultants, said a
lot of interest in biofuel crops and speculative investment in alternative
energy companies was sparked when gas prices were higher.

Except for noxious weeds, he said Hawaii has a very short list of plants subject
to regulations and he doesn't know if any biofuel crops are on the list. "Apart
from that, the right to plant anything on the land is sacrosanct if you're a
private owner," he said, pointing out this could be a problem if a big land
owner decided to plant a crop likely to be invasive.

Buddenhagen said some high-risk crops might be grown if measures were taken to
keep them from spreading: "There is a lot of literature suggesting we need to be
careful.

"Basically, we have to live with a lot of invasive species we have," Buddenhagen
added, "but if they are widespread over thousands of acres -- a scenario you
would need for significant business -- you're altering the landscape just by
planting in the first place. And if the plants spread, they are potentially
altering the neighboring lands also.

"By identifying the species with the highest risk and pushing for planting
guidelines and precautionary measures prior to widespread planting, we hope to
spare the Hawaiian Islands and similar tropical ecosystems from future economic
and environmental costs of the worst invaders while encouraging and promoting
the use of lower-risk alternative crops."

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