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New study finds ‘insignificant’ link between US biofuel policy and deforestation in south-east Asia

A new study carried out by economic modelling experts from Purdue University in the US has found the impacts of US biofuel policy on deforestation in Malaysia and Indonesia to be ‘insignificant’.

The study, titled ‘US Biofuel Production and Policy Implications for Land Use Changes in Malaysia and Indonesia’, considered concerns from renewable fuel opponents claiming that biofuels are to blame for increased agricultural activity in southeast Asia.

“Our analysis shows that less than 1% of the land cleared in Indonesia and Malaysia can be tied to US biofuel production,” commented Farzad Taheripour, a research associate professor in agricultural economics at Purdue.

Analysis previously published by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and Argonne National Laboratory have quantified the benefits of using biodiesel instead of fossil fuel, thanks to its significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Biodiesel and renewable diesel are currently experiencing increased use under federal and state policies in the US, with benefits including reduction in carbon dioxide...

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