The Use and Harm of Biofuels.

Biofuels are created from biological matter or bio-mass. Ethanol, for example, is made from corn. And biodeisal is made from used (recycled) vegetable oils. Biofuels burn cleaner than oil does in our cars and furnaces. And since they are basically derived from plants, can be a sustainable fuel, where crops, waste materials and weeds are converted into liquid energy.

But we do need to plan carefully how we develop biofuels. The danger is that for a quick buck, greedy people will cut down forests, use crops that hungry people need and otherwise misuse the habitat.

Over the next few years, countries around the world should be:

• Using marginal lands for biofuel crops (leaving the rich farm lands for food crops).
  
• Developing specific plants for specific fuels. Perhaps hemp is better than corn or sugar for ethanol production. Or there maybe some other plants, not yet considered, that are better.
  
• Pass regulations that make it easy to gather and reuse all vegetable oils from restaurants that can be used to make biodeisal.
  
• Ensure that profits are shared by many and are reasonable.
  
• Zoning areas to make sure that all human needs are met.
  
• Keep researching and keep thinking.

The European Union is doing some thinking about biofuels. Here is a news article with details...