U.S. Brazil, Ethanol

I read a short article on the NY Times website. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/03/business/worldbusiness/03ethanol.html...This was an intriguing yet troubling article. Ethanol use will lessen the dependence upon fossil fuels, especially petroleum.It also has the possibility of strengthening the economies of several Central and South American nations. But even this benefit in the face of NAFTA leads one to perplexion.Also, reading over these statements in particular, and from what I noticed there was no mention of the increase in clearing forests for farm land to grow the sugar cane? or how many acres would need to be cleared to accomplish their goal of ethanol becoming a "global commodity"?The article was bereft of information concerning the loss of biodiversity.So, a little searching and up popped this: http://www.aibs.org/bioscience-press-releases/050701_fuel_ethanol_...So, to put it simply, where do others stand on this issue? Does anyone have any more information regarding this topic? Possibly Quetzal? who I beieve, but may be wrong, is currently residing south of the US border?Edited by Admin, : Shorten links.

No kidding. Of several starting materials to make ethanol from, corn is, I believe, one of the least efficacious.

With corn being a rather poor producer of biofuels, it makes one wonder why the US route to "energy independence" was paved by way of corn... I recall hearing something along the lines of rainforests having fairly infertile and unproductive soil. Assuming this is true, wouldn't clearing rainforests for agriculture be an exercise in futility?Would copious amounts of fertilizer then be needed to increase productivity? further hampering the environment? Which is why I am a bit apprehensive about the US and Brazil partnering in ethanol use and production."Large-scale commercial production" is our nation's bread and butter.

Interesting. This may be straying a bit from the topic but just how "powerful" is the corn lobby? An interesting topic unto itself. Have you considered initiating a thread on that thought?

Would you mind explaining further about the "basic natural history of corn"? I hope it is considered and eventually successful. Best of luck.

Sure, if it's not too much to ask. I would enjoy that read.AbE- You've been most helpful on this topic, Quetzel. Much obliged.Edited by Infixion, : Last line.