Positive Indirect Land Use Change

“I believe in indirect land use change.”

That’s what Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw said in his address at the 4th Annual Iowa Renewable Summit last week.

“Now, before I get fired please allow me to clarify,” he continued. “I do not believe that the production of ethanol and biodiesel in the US leads to the destruction of the Amazon rain forest. Quite the opposite.”

After looking at this year’s corn and soybean production records, I have come to the conclusion that the simply astounding productivity gains of the American farmer is changing the way we use land in the United States. After all, 2009’s record corn crop was produced on 7 million fewer acres than the year before. Those acres went somewhere!

Shaw points out that “renewable fuels production has never used a kernel of “baseline” commodity production. American farmers produce more commodities for food, feed, exports and other non-fuel uses than they did in 1980 – and on fewer acres. Yet while expanding these non-fuel markets, the yield gains provided enough “new” corn to also produce 10.6 billion gallons of ethanol in 2009.”

I believe better science will clear up the current indirect land use debate. Plant technology will continue to improve production efficiencies. Seed technology and better agronomic practices will continue to boost commodity yields at an increasing rate. In short, it won’t be long until corn ethanol achieves the scientific benchmarks of an advanced biofuel.

Some food – and fuel – for thought. Read all of Monte’s remarks here on-line.