ARTIGO ACADÊMICO

Marcelo M. R. Moreira, Joaquim E. A. Seabra, Lee R. Lynd, Sofia M. Arantes, Marcelo P. Cunha and Joaquim J. M. Guilhoto
Nature Sustainability

Agricultural intensification, and particularly double cropping, has been suggested as a practical strategy to reconcile biofuel feedstock production with other land-use priorities. Here we assess ethanol production under conditions representative of cur-rent practice in the west central region of Brazil: maize grown as a second crop with soybean on land that formerly grew a single soybean crop, and energy processed from a combined heat and power plant using plantation-grown eucalyptus chips. For maize ethanol thus produced we find large reductions in greenhouse gas emissions compared to gasoline, and considerable economic and employment benefits at both local and national levels. We also calculate reduced land-use emissions with maize ethanol production compared to the situation without it. Our study thus documents an example of how the complex linkages of bioen-ergy to food production and security, environment and economic development can be—and indeed appear to be—managed for positive outcomes using current technology.

Full article.