Environmental Impacts of Environmental Impacts of BiofuelBiofuel Cropping Systems:Cropping Systems:

IntroductionIntroduction

Bill Bill PartonPartonColorado State UniversityColorado State University

Meeting CoMeeting Co--ChairsChairsBill Bill PartonParton

(Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado (Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University)State University)

Richard Richard PouyatPouyat(USDA Forest Service, Baltimore Ecosystem (USDA Forest Service, Baltimore Ecosystem

Studies)Studies)

Steering CommitteeSteering CommitteeDale Brockway (Research Ecologist, USDA Forest Dale Brockway (Research Ecologist, USDA Forest

Service, Southern Research Station)Service, Southern Research Station)Richard Cruse (Iowa State University)Richard Cruse (Iowa State University)Virginia Dale (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)Virginia Dale (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)Karl Karl GlasenerGlasener (Director of Science Policy, American (Director of Science Policy, American

Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America)Soil Science Society of America)Dennis Dennis OjimaOjima (The H. John Heinz III Center for (The H. John Heinz III Center for

Science, Economics, and the Environment)Science, Economics, and the Environment)Tim Tim RialsRials (Director, Sun Grant Initiative, Southeastern (Director, Sun Grant Initiative, Southeastern

Regional Center)Regional Center)Philip Robertson (Michigan State University, Philip Robertson (Michigan State University, W.KW.K. .

Kellogg Biological Station)Kellogg Biological Station)

Steering CommitteeSteering CommitteeJohn Sheehan (Vice President, Strategy and John Sheehan (Vice President, Strategy and

Sustainable Development, Sustainable Development, LiveFuelsLiveFuels, Inc.), Inc.)Linda Wallace (Professor, Botany/Microbiology, Linda Wallace (Professor, Botany/Microbiology, GLCHGLCH, ,

University of Oklahoma)University of Oklahoma)Kathleen C. Weathers (Senior Scientist, Institute of Kathleen C. Weathers (Senior Scientist, Institute of

Ecosystem Studies)Ecosystem Studies)Wally Wilhelm (USDAWally Wilhelm (USDA--ARSARS))

ESAESA StaffStaffClifford Duke Clifford Duke –– Director of Science ProgramsDirector of Science ProgramsMindy Mindy DestroDestro –– Science Programs ManagerScience Programs ManagerDevon Rothschild Devon Rothschild –– Science Programs Science Programs

AssistantAssistantAletaAleta Wiley Wiley –– Program AssistantProgram AssistantRamona Crawford Ramona Crawford –– Director of DevelopmentDirector of DevelopmentNadine Nadine LymnLymn –– Director of Public Affairs Director of Public Affairs

OfficeOfficeColleen Fahey Colleen Fahey –– Policy AnalystPolicy AnalystTricia Crocker Tricia Crocker –– Meetings AssistantMeetings Assistant

BiofuelBiofuel SponsorsSponsorsAmerican Forest and Paper Association American Forest and Paper Association American Petroleum Institute American Petroleum Institute Energy Biosciences Institute Energy Biosciences Institute Energy Foundation Energy Foundation Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation H. John Heinz III Center for Science, H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the EnvironmentEconomics and the EnvironmentNatural Resources Defense CouncilNatural Resources Defense CouncilUnion of Concerned ScientistsUnion of Concerned ScientistsUSDAUSDA--Agricultural Research ServiceAgricultural Research ServiceUSDAUSDA--CSREESCSREES

BiofuelBiofuel SponsorsSponsors

USDAUSDA--Forest ServiceForest ServiceUS Department of Energy US Department of Energy US Environmental Protection Agency US Environmental Protection Agency Western Governors’ Association Western Governors’ Association Woodrow Wilson International Center for Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Scholars

Key Environmental IssuesKey Environmental IssuesNet Greenhouse Gas impact of cropping Net Greenhouse Gas impact of cropping systemsystemImplications of Implications of biofuelsbiofuels on agriculture land on agriculture land useuse–– Crop switchingCrop switching–– Expansion of agricultureExpansion of agriculture–– Use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

landlandEnvironmental “leakage” effects at Environmental “leakage” effects at regional and global scalesregional and global scales–– Cutting of forests for Cutting of forests for biofuelbiofuel cropscropsConservation and biodiversityConservation and biodiversity–– CRP landCRP land

Key Environmental IssuesKey Environmental IssuesFood vs. Fuel argumentFood vs. Fuel argument–– Reduce food for third world countriesReduce food for third world countries–– Mexico Tortilla ExampleMexico Tortilla Example

Enhanced agriculture clearingEnhanced agriculture clearing

–– Improve agriculture in developing countriesImprove agriculture in developing countriesFertilizing in MalawiFertilizing in Malawi

OutlineOutline

What are the potential What are the potential biofuelbiofuelcropping systems?cropping systems?Potential impacts of land use Potential impacts of land use changeschanges–– Plowing of CRP landPlowing of CRP land

List of talksList of talksSummarySummary

BiofuelBiofuel Cropping SystemsCropping Systems

Oil Crops (Rapeseed, Canola)Oil Crops (Rapeseed, Canola)CornCorn--Soybean Soybean –– (CT, NT)(CT, NT)Perennial GrassPerennial Grass–– SwitchgrassSwitchgrass–– Reed CanaryReed Canary–– Low Input SystemLow Input System

CornCorn--Soybean Soybean –– ALFALFA (CT, NT)ALFALFA (CT, NT)Hybrid PoplarHybrid Poplar

Environment vs. Greenhouse Environment vs. Greenhouse Gas ReductionGas Reduction

R. Zah et al., Ökobilanz von Energieprodukten: Ökologische Bewertung von Biotreibstoffen (Empa, St. Gallen, Switzerland, 2007)

Expansion of Agriculture in the U.S.Expansion of Agriculture in the U.S.

Conservation Reserve Program Lands Conservation Reserve Program Lands (CRP)(CRP)Native GrasslandsNative GrasslandsReduction in other crops (i.e. soybean)Reduction in other crops (i.e. soybean)

Change in Soil C10-year annual mean after conversion

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

corn/soycontinuous

corn/soy tocorn

CRPcontinuous

CRP tocorn/soy CT

CRP tocorn/soy NT

CRP toswitchgrass

delta

SO

C g

C m

-2 y

r-1

N2O Emisisons10-year annual mean after conversion

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

corn/soycontinuous

corn/soy tocorn

CRPcontinuous

CRP tocorn/soy CT

CRP tocorn/soy NT

CRP toswitchgrass

CO

2-C

eq.

gC

m-2

yr-1

Net GHG Emisisons10-year annual mean after conversion

-25

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

corn/soycontinuous

corn/soy tocorn

CRPcontinuous

CRP tocorn/soy CT

CRP tocorn/soy NT

CRP toswitchgrass

CO

2-C

eq.

gC

m-2

yr-1

Adler, P.R., S.J. Del Grosso, and W.J. Parton. 2007. Life cycle assessment of net greenhouse gas flux for bioenergy cropping systems. Ecol. Appl. 17(3):675–691.

Schmer, M.R., K.P. Vogel, R.B. Mitchell, and R.K. Perrin. 2008. Net energy of cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass. PNAS 105: 464-469.

Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

Defining Sustainable Defining Sustainable BiofuelsBiofuels –– or or “It isn’t Easy Being Green”“It isn’t Easy Being Green”

John SheehanJohn SheehanLiveFuelsLiveFuels, Inc., Inc.

Private Sector PerspectivePrivate Sector Perspective

Field to Fuel Field to Fuel –– Developing Sustainable Developing Sustainable BiorefineriesBiorefineries

Robin JenkinsRobin JenkinsDupontDupont Central Research and Central Research and

Development Experiment StationDevelopment Experiment Station

Socioeconomic PerspectiveSocioeconomic Perspective

BiofuelsBiofuels and Water Quality in the and Water Quality in the Midwest: Corn vs. Midwest: Corn vs. SwitchgrassSwitchgrass as as

FeedstocksFeedstocks

Cathy KlingCathy KlingIowa State UniversityIowa State University

BiogeochemistryBiogeochemistry

The Biogeochemistry of The Biogeochemistry of BioenergyBioenergyLandscapes: Clean Water, Clear Air, & Landscapes: Clean Water, Clear Air, &

Climate Mitigation vs. Business as Climate Mitigation vs. Business as UsualUsual

Philip RobertsonPhilip RobertsonMichigan State UniversityMichigan State University

Landscape DynamicsLandscape Dynamics

Interactions Between Interactions Between BiofuelBiofuel Choices Choices and Landscape Dynamics and Land and Landscape Dynamics and Land

UseUse

Virginia DaleVirginia DaleOak Ridge National LaboratoryOak Ridge National Laboratory

Keynote AddressKeynote Address

Environmental and Ecological Environmental and Ecological Dimensions of Dimensions of BiofuelsBiofuels

Jose Jose GoldembergGoldembergGlobal Energy Assessment Council & Global Energy Assessment Council &

UniversidadeUniversidade de Sao Paulo, de Sao Paulo, BrasilBrasil

Conservation & BiodiversityConservation & Biodiversity

BiofuelsBiofuels and Biodiversityand Biodiversity

John John WiensWiensThe Nature ConservancyThe Nature Conservancy

Agriculture & GrasslandsAgriculture & Grasslands

Production of Production of BiofuelsBiofuels Feedstock on Feedstock on Agriculture Land and GrasslandsAgriculture Land and Grasslands

Rob MitchellRob MitchellWally WilhelmWally Wilhelm

U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research ServiceAgricultural Research Service

RangelandsRangelands

Are Rangeland Are Rangeland BiofuelBiofuel FeedstocksFeedstocksEcologically Sustainable?Ecologically Sustainable?

Rob MitchellRob MitchellLinda WallaceLinda Wallace

University of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma

ForestsForests

Sustainable Sustainable BiofuelsBiofuels and and BioproductsBioproductsfrom Our Forestsfrom Our Forests

Marilyn BufordMarilyn BufordU.S. Department of Agriculture Forest U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest

ServiceService

Secondary Secondary FeedstocksFeedstocks

Municipal Solid Waste as Supplemental Municipal Solid Waste as Supplemental FeedstocksFeedstocks

Donna Donna PerlaPerlaU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyU.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Ecology SynthesisEcology Synthesis

A GlobalA Global--Scale Scale BiofuelsBiofuels Program and Program and its Environmental Consequencesits Environmental Consequences

Jerry Jerry MelilloMelilloThe Ecosystems Center, The Ecosystems Center,

Marine Biological LaboratoryMarine Biological Laboratory

Decision Making SynthesisDecision Making Synthesis

The Rush to The Rush to BiofuelsBiofuels and Ecological and Ecological Perspectives in the Policy ProcessPerspectives in the Policy Process

Otto Otto DoeringDoeringPurdue UniversityPurdue University

SummarySummary

ESAESA is working on getting is working on getting environmental information on environmental information on biofuelbiofuelcropping systems readily availablecropping systems readily availableA set of synthesis papers will be A set of synthesis papers will be written as a result of this meetingwritten as a result of this meetingRecommendations for new Recommendations for new biofuelbiofuelenvironmental impact researchenvironmental impact research