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Biofuels, Food and Feed Tradeoffs, April 2007

The rapid growth of the biofuels industry is raising concerns about the potential impacts on global markets for food grains and feed grains, as well as resource use.  These concerns were addressed at an April 12-13, 2007, conference sponsored by Farm Foundation, USDA Rural Development and USDA’s Office of Energy Policy and New Uses.

Bio-Fuels, Food and Feed Tradeoffs featured the latest research on the short- and medium-term impacts of increased biofuel production on food and feed markets in the United States and world-wide.  Focus was on the global food and feed grain markets over the next 10 years. Breakout sessions addressed four areas of challenges—environmental, production, distribution and logistics. Participants also examined business strategies and policy initiatives, and identified future research needs.

The 170 participants included agribusiness leaders, representatives of the bioenergy and petroleum industries, community and government leaders, researchers and farmers and ranchers. The event was at the Marriott St. Louis Airport.

This was the fourth in a series of conferences Farm Foundation has organized on the topic of agriculture and energy.  Previous conferences addressed Agriculture as a Producer and Consumer of Energy,   Energy from Agriculture: New Technologies, Innovations and Success Stories, and Energy in Agriculture: Managing the Risks.

Biofuels, Food & Feed–An Overview
A Status Report on the Biofuels Industry
Keith Collins, USDA Office of the Chief Economist

USDA/DOE Biomass R & D Action Plan
James Fischer, USDA Research Education & Economics

Economic Consequences of Biofuels Expansion
Dan Kowalski, LECG, LLC

Biofuels Policy Alternatives for the Future
Wallace Tyner, Purdue University
Paper

U.S. Analysis of Biofuels, Food and Feed
Food, Bioenergy and Trade: Economy-Wide Assessment of Renewable Fuel Substitution
Mark Gehlhar, USDA Economic Research Service

U.S. Biofuels Analysis Under Uncertainty
Seth Meyer, University of Missouri
Paper

University of Tennessee Modeling System with a Focus on the 25X’25 Analysis
Daniel G. De La Torre Ugarte & Burton English, University of Tennessee
Paper

Effects of an Oil Price Floor or a Variable Ethanol Subsidy on U.S. Agriculture
Henry Bryant, Texas A&M University

Lunch
Practical Issues of Bio-Energy Policy Implementation
Tom Dorr, USDA Rural Development

Breakout Sessions
Session A – Feedstocks and Land Use
• Food, Feed, Fuel & Fiber: Meeting the Challenge for Increased Grain Production
Russ Sanders & LeAnne Philips, Pioneer Hi-Bred International

• Impact of Biofuel Production on Crop Production in the Southern Plains
Phil Kenkel & Holly Regan, Oklahoma State University
Paper

• Mitigating Fuel and Feed Effects of Increased Ethanol Production Utilizing Sugarcane
Luis Ribera, Joe Outlaw, James Richardson & Jorge Da Silva, Texas A&M University
Paper

• Fueling the Future of Food, Feed and Fuel Through Innovations in Crop Sciences
B.J. Calabotta & M. Edgerton, Monsanto

Session B – Environmental Benefits & Externalities
• Corn Ethanol Production Versus Environmental Remedies
Clay Ogg, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• Using Stated Preferences to Estimate the Environmental Benefits of Using Biodiesel Fuel in Diesel Engines
P. Wilner Jeanty & Fred Hitzhusen, Ohio State University
Paper

• Killing Two Birds with One Stone: The United States and the European Union Biofuel Program
Jean-Marc Bourgeon & David Treguer, French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA)
Paper

• Ethanol Subsidies – Who Gets the Benefits?
Farzad Taheripour & Wallace Tyner, Purdue University
Paper

Session C: Biomass & the Outlook for the Farm Sector
• Local Biomass Feedstocks Availability for Fueling Ethanol Production
Evert Van der Sluis, Richard Shane & Larry Stearns, South Dakota State University
Paper

• Assessment of Two Alternative Switchgrass Harvest and Transport Methods
Michael Popp & Robert Hogan Jr., University of Arkansas
Paper

• Agriculture as a Source of Fuel – Prospects and Impacts 2007 to 2017
John N. Ferris & Satish V. Joshi, Michigan State University
Paper

• Impacts of the European Biofuel Policy on the Farm Sector: A General Equilibrium Assessment
Alexandre Gohin, French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA)
Paper

Session D: Renewable Fuel Impacts on Feed Availability & Coproduct Use
• Biofuel Production Based on Dairy Consumption of DDGS and Soybean Meal in Wisconsin
Jennifer L. Hermans, Douglas J. Reinemann, Louis E. Armentano, T. Randall Fortenbery
& Michel A. Wattiaux, GDS Associates Inc.

• Impact of Feed Cost Prices on U.S. Poultry Production: Implications of Increased Ethanol Production
Andrew Muhammad, Andrew Whittington & John Anderson, Mississippi State University
Paper

• Interaction Between Ethanol and Cattle Feeding: Economics and Issues
David Anderson, Erin Daley & Joe Outlaw, Texas A&M University
Paper

• Corn Processing Coproducts From Ethanol Production
Kent Rausch & Mike Tumbleson, University of Illinois
Paper

Global Analysis of BioEnergy, Food & Feed
Global Dimensions in the Tradeoffs Between Biofuels, Food & Feed
John Beghin, Iowa State University

Prospects for the Production of Biofuels in the European Union
Florence Jacquet, French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA)
Paper

Global Aspects of USDA Baseline Analysis of Biofuels
Ron Trostle, USDA Economic Research Service
Paper

Biofuels, Food & Feed–The Next Five Years
A Petroleum Industry Perspective
John C. Felmy, American Petroleum Institute

Perspectives from Agriculture
Ken & Becky Doyle, Hickory Grove Pork Farm
Rick Tolman, National Corn Growers Association

What We Know and What We Need to Know
Wallace Tyner, Purdue University

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