Viewpoints
Viewpoints features essays and interviews by the Center for a Livable Future’s staff, faculty, fellows and other affiliates. These opinions are opinions—not representations of the Center’s priorities, activities or stances.
Food Systems & Climate Change
Do Farmers Benefit from Biofuels?
Even with government backing, ethanol and biodiesel production has been high risk, leading to failures of ethanol plants.
Food Systems & Climate Change
Biofuels: Innovations Needed
We need to advance the knowledge of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, which could produce liquid fuels and heavy oils from cellulosic materials at competitive prices.
Food Systems & Climate Change
The Cellulose Quandary
We need to advance the knowledge of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, which could produce liquid fuels and heavy oils from cellulosic materials at competitive prices.
Food Systems & Climate Change
Indirect Land Use Change and Biofuels: Real or Hypothetical?
Biofuels that use food crops, particularly corn ethanol, are adding a large extra load of carbon dioxide because of their affects of food prices.
Food Systems & Climate Change
Fossil Energy Alternates: Shale Gas, Oil Shale, and Tar Sands
Some people are saying this era is the end of “peak easy oil.”
Food Systems & Climate Change
Does Ethanol Pollute the Environment … or Does Corn?
How does corn culture cause environmental harm?
Food Systems & Climate Change
An Ethanol Timeline: How We Got Here
Since 1826, ethanol has been of interest to entrepreneurs and agriculturists as a possible alternate fuel.
Diet, Health & Planetary Boundaries
Peak Oil, Food Systems, Irene, Debt and Deadlines
Hurricane Irene caused major disruptions, but nothing like what could occur as oil prices rise into the stratosphere.
Food Animal Production, Diet, Health & Planetary Boundaries
Hey, USDA, Who’s Your Daddy?
This is a disturbing example of the animal agro-industry’s influence at the USDA.
Food Systems & Climate Change, Food Animal Production, Diet, Health & Planetary Boundaries
Carnivores and Climate Change
The carbon footprint of beef is 24.5 times higher than that for tomatoes.