Canadian research network slams ‘biofuels are worse than gasoline’ study

BioFuelNet Canada, a Canadian research network on advanced biofuels, has slammed the findings of a recent study by Professor John DeCicco from the University of Michigan and colleagues which states that biofuels are worse than gasoline in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.

In the study, when DeCicco and colleagues calculate the CO₂ emissions going into the atmosphere, they consider all parts of the plant: leaves, stalks, roots and grains.

However, BioFuelNet Canada said that when the University of Michigan’s researchers calculate the uptake or storage of CO₂ in the plant, they consider only the grain. Therefore there is an imbalance in the calculations, which would lead the reader to think that biofuels emit more CO₂ than they absorb, BioFuelNet Canada stated.

The carbon accounting in the study is fundamentally flawed, which generates a skewed picture of the carbon-neutral biofuels by conveniently ignoring a fundamental biological truth – crops produce more than just grain!

When plants grow, they take CO₂ out of the atmosphere and produce the stalks, leaves, roots, grains. In corn and soybean for example, leaves, stalks and other non-edible parts contain even more carbon than the grain itself, the network said.

Although grain is harvested, the non-harvested residues are left in the field. This biomass contains stored carbon that is gradually decomposed in the next years, some of which is released as CO₂ and the rest becomes part of the soil organic carbon, BioFuelNet Canada stated.

Accounting for the ‘missing carbon’ will go a long way to bring the findings of this study in line with the prevailing scientific opinion that those who plant and grow crops – namely the agriculture and forestry sectors – should get credit for the carbon gained from photosynthesis in all crop biomass, not just the portion that is harvested for biofuel.

This story was written by Liz Gyekye, editor of Biofuels International.