Move To Ethanol Expected To Fuel Trend To More Vegetarianism
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03. 6.07
According to the Financial Times, a US Department of Agriculture Official came up just short of stating the obvious, per our post title:- "Keith Collins, chief economist at the US Department of Agriculture," is quoted in FT as saying that "Feed prices are rising, so that pushes up the costs of poultry, hogs and cattle; and, therefore, a rancher is going to lower the size of his herd to keep costs down. In turn there is going to be less meat, which means prices are going to go up,..." Going on, the USDA representative stated that demand for biofuel feedstock "has contributed to the fall in global corn and wheat stockpiles to about 25-year lows relative to days of consumption". And that's not all. Corn sweetener, too ,is predetermined to go up in price, especially if bad weather and drought leads to a poor harvest. That means snack food prices could soar, amplifying the trend to eating healthier. Which will contribute to a reduction in the obesity rate. So, there you go. Stop complaining about the net energy transfer rate of ethanol. Gaia rules.
But, the prices for vegetarian items (veggie burgers, sausages, not to mention bread and many other items like that) will also go up. The conversion of corn (and wheat) from a food source to a fuel source is going to have major effects on food prices and availability around the world.
Cheers!
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True to some extent, although I am not aware of anyone yet making ethanol out of wheat (most cattle fed corn in the final two weeks of life to fatten up). Produce and non-corn grains are not going to go into the ethanol market. However, the price of ordinary beef will approach parity with grass fed beef, but with grass fed suppliers having an edge on cost because of not having to buy corn! That will be interesting.
Oh no, the price of high-fructose corn syrup will go up! How will we survive! It will be interesting to see how this whole corn/ethanol thing plays out. From my limited research, it is barely a net gain in energy- if at all. I'm sure that Monsanto and the corn belt will be pushing for huge subsidies anyway.
On a side note; over the past decade there seemed to be a huge increase in the number of steakhouse restaurants. Perhaps there will be a battle between inefficient, corn-ethanol production and inefficient, cattle production. A lose/lose scenario. Fantastic.
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Receiving this award in absentia is the author of next year's runaway Hollywood favorite: Romancing The Cobb
Which will not stop the prices for non-corn grains from rising - because there's more demand for prime agricultural land.
That the same in Brazil: prime land is taken for sugar that is made into ethanol and the soy producers move into what used to be rainforest (here)
STOP BURNING FOOD IN CARS!
Once the mainstream media and the general public latches on to this. You can pour your ethanol down the toilet.
Don't underestimate the ability of McDonald's, Frito-Lay, and Coca-Cola when they feel threatened.
The whole reason ethanol got started is because we grow too much food, specifically corn. The sole (major) limiting factor is water supplies.
Don't dis the corn! I live in the state that grows the second largest amount of corn, I think. Darn you, Iowa!
Oh, and I was looking up facts for a report about a month ago and found, in response to "The sole (major) limiting factor is water supplies.", that being a vegan for a year use less water, in regard to that use for food, than eating meat for a month. I don't remember where that was from exactly, but it was written within the last 5 years.
"That the same in Brazil: prime land is taken for sugar that is made into ethanol and the soy producers move into what used to be rain forest "
The same is happening right now in Argentina where the craze for soy-based food has pushed the landlords to destroy the oldest forests in the country to make more soy fields.
Honestly I don't see a solution in vegetarianism: after all, if you only eat veggies you're getting osteoporosis at the age of 30, just like your cholesterol will be sky high if you only eat meat.
Want a solution? use both, and biofuels are as dangerous as fossil ones.
Electric cars are the only way (that or walking)
In Finland the prime source to the ethanol industry is going to be oat.
In a land of over-production the biggest disaster ahead seems to be the rising costs of beer.
You'll end up in this conclusion if you follow the mainstream media, that is.
Shadowlayer-
You DO know that being vegetarian means you don't eat MEAT, not dairy (necessarily). Don't you? Oh, and, they've done studies that show that have proven that women who eat meat... what's that?... MEAT... are more likely to have osteoporosis. Why? Digesting meat strips the calcium from your bones. Besides, even if you don't drink milk, you can get plenty of calcium. You can get a ton of calcium-fortified foods not to mention veggies such as broccoli, kale, etc.
I know before I said "don't dis the corn", but we can grow this here (quite well actually) so it could still be good. I say we switch to ethanol made from corn to that made from switchgrass . It's easy to grow, a perennial, doesn't use that much water, and is theorized (not enough development yet to be totally sure) to be able to put out AT LEAST 10-12 to 1 energy output to fuel consumption. Oh, yeah, did I forget? It grows in places corn, oats, etc. will not (ex: not quite as fertile land) in the prairie states. Not to mention, it's great at holding the soil in, so it will help with desertification (at least in the US Midwest, but possibly around the world).
The output capabilities of switchgrass per acre almost beat an acre of corn and an acre of sugar cane combined (sugarcane: 665, corn: 400). Of course it has its critics, but all ethanol fuel sources should be given their time to "grow" (pardon the pun).