Zilberman, David, Gal Hochman, and Deepak Rajagopal

from ARE Update Vol. 13, No. 4, Mar/Apr, 2010

View Article PDF: Indirect Land Use: One Consideration Too Many in Biofuel Regulation

Abstract

Allocation of agricultural commodities like corn to produce biofuels (ethanol)— leads to higher corn prices, which may lead to expansion of corn acreage and ultimately expansion of agriculture resulting in extra greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from land use. These extra emissions are what are referred to as indirect land-use effects (ILUEs) of biofuels. This paper argues against the current practice of considering ILUEs of biofuels in the current California and Federal regulations of biofuel. The indirect land uses are uncertain, vary over time, and their current estimates diverge significantly.

Keywords

Biofuels, land use, greenhouse gas emissions, corn acreage

Citation

Zilberman, David, Gal Hochman, and Deepak Rajagopal. 2010. "Indirect Land Use: One Consideration Too Many in Biofuel Regulation." ARE Update 13(4): 1-4. University of California Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics.
https://giannini.ucop.edu/filer/file/1453327754/16829/