Food vs. Fuel: FAQ

U.S. biodiesel has a very small impact on food costs. The "e;perfect storm"e; of many factors, ranging from rising energy costs to unfavorable weather, is blinding eyes to the facts. Biodiesel helps redefine the future of energy security, the environment and the economy. At the same time, U.S. biodiesel production is actually driving increased production and thereby cutting the cost of soybean meal—an excellent protein source for hungry humans and animals. Biodiesel is truly a rising tide lifting many ships. READ MORE!

 

 

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THE BIODIESEL ALLIANCE is a diverse coalition of organizations, agencies and businesses from across the nation who find common ground in their support for biodiesel fuel. Founded and managed by the National Biodiesel Board, the Biodiesel Alliance supports information sharing and opportunities to help advance the use of clean-burning, renewable biodiesel fuel that meets high industry standards. As a result, the Biodiesel Alliance is instrumental in helping others to recognize the benefits of biodiesel to human health, the environment, national energy security and the US economy. JOIN TODAY


 



Scientists Announce Declaration on Biodiesel

Urge Peers to Join Commitment on Continued Progress for Food, Feed & Energy

SAN FRANCISCO - As founder and a director of the Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute, Dr. Rob Myers is well aware of Jefferson's historic commitment to exploring new frontiers as well as agricultural progress. With an eye on continuing advancements in biodiesel that would have appealed to Jefferson's interests, Myers announced today the "Scientists for Biodiesel" declaration at the opening session of the National Biodiesel Conference and Expo in San Francisco.

Donald Danforth Plant Science Center President Roger Beachy and Myers are co-chairs of the "Scientists for Biodiesel" campaign and are inviting their peers from around the world to add their support by cosigning the declaration.

"Scientists sometimes have differences of opinion, but this declaration is intended to show the broad consensus among scientists about the benefits of biodiesel," Myers said. "Our goal is to increase awareness and information sharing about the depth and breadth of the scientific research behind biodiesel that contributes to its sustainability."

The declaration also calls for more investment into the scientific needs associated with this vital bioenergy source.

"We applaud these scientists for their exciting work and dedication to enhancing biodiesel's ability meet the food, feed, fiber and energy needs of the future," said National Biodiesel Board Chairman Ed Hegland. "Biodiesel already comes from a variety of feedstocks that can meet today's needs. These scientists are part of the dynamic team that is helping blaze trails for further progress through greater productivity of existing feedstocks and new scientific discoveries."

By visiting www.biodieselsustainability.com, scientists can share information about their work and sign the declaration which says in part, "Biodiesel from a variety of feedstocks can meet contemporary needs for environmental stewardship, economic prosperity, and quality of life without compromising the ability of future generations to meet these needs for themselves."

The NBB is the national trade association of the biodiesel industry and is the coordinating body for biodiesel research and development in the United States.

For more details on biodiesel, visit www.biodiesel.org.

Declaration

We, the undersigned members of the scientific community, believe that biodiesel can reduce dependence on petroleum, help address climate change and boost domestic economies.

Biodiesel from a variety of feedstocks can meet contemporary needs for environmental stewardship, economic prosperity, and quality of life without compromising the ability of future generations to meet these needs for themselves.

We support increased investment in research and development by public and private sources that will enhance biodiesel as a sustainable fuel for transportation and other uses. We are confident that scientific advancements can demonstrate, preserve, and enhance biodiesel's ability to help meet the food, feed, fiber, and energy needs of the future.

Ibrahim Abou-Nemeh, Director of R&D - Product Discovery
Novus International, Inc.

Dr. Mary Altalo,
Edgefield Environmental Associates LLC

Dick Auld, Rockwell Professor
Texas Tech University

Kurt Baker, Founder
LA City Biodiesel

Ronald Barton, Board Chairman
Walnut Park Merchants and Community Association (retired)

Caleb Basiliko, Research Fleet Manager
Buffalo State College Great Lakes Center

Christoph Benning, Professor
Michigan State University

Keith Bilyeu, Soybean Breeder
Syngenta Seeds, Inc.

Mark Blankenbuehler, Assoc. Professor of Chemistry
Morehead State University

H. Roger Boerma, Distinguished Research Professor
University of Georgia, Center for Applied Genetic Technologies

Dorin Boldor, Assistant Professor
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center

Steve Borgelt, Associate Professor
University of Missouri-Columbia

Marc Cardoso, Chairman
Ecogenics Research Center

Jimmy Cargle, Agriscience Teacher
Tift County High School

Barry Cole, President
Woodlands Capital Partners

Ben E Dawson-Andoh, Asscoiate Professor
West Virginia University

Randy Dellinger, Managing Partner
Foothills Bio-Energies, LLC

Robert Dibble, Professor
University of California Berkeley

Madhu Dowlapalli, Senior Research Scientist / Chemical Engineer
CEHMM, Algae to Biodiesel

Donald Duncan, City Manager
City of Conover, NC

Ken Farminer, VP Business
BioPlastic Polymers and Composites, LLC

Matthew Fields, Assistant Professor
Montana State University, Microbiology

Jamie Foster, Assistant Professor
Texas A&M University

Stephen Frazer, Researcher
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Jerry Fruin, Professor
University of Minnesota

Daniel Geller, Research Engineer
The University of Georgia

Dr. Sue Gibson, Associate Professor
University of Minnesota, Dept. of Plant Biology

Keith Glewen, Extension Educator
University of Nebraska - Lincoln

John Goodrum, Professor of Engineering, (retired)
University of Georgia

Mark Guiltinan, Professor
Penn State University

Michael Haas, Ph.D.

Dallas Hanks, Research Scientist
Utah State University

Benjamin Harmon, Professor of Agriculture/Biology
Ashland Community & Technical College

Michael Harris, Owner
Harris Management Services, LLC

Kathleen Hastings, Research Technician
Buffalo State College Great Lakes Center

Brian B. He, Professor of Agriculture/Biology
University of Idaho

Dr. Gary Hergert, Professor
Universiy of Nebraska

D Hildebrand, Professor
University of Kentucky, Plant and Soil Sciences

Dr. Axel Ingendoh
Lanxess Deutschland GmbH

Jan Jaworski, Vice President for Research and Principal Investigator
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Dr. Sohan Jindal
Jai Sri Swamiji, Inc.

Richard Joost, Director of Research

Ranae Jorgenson, Analytical Chemist
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute

Ms. Kathryn Kartchner, Director
GeoGreen Fuels, LLC

Dennis Keeney, Senior Fellow
IATP

Hyder Ali Khoja, Senior Environmental Research Scientist and Molecular Biologist
Center of Excellence for Hazardous Materials Management, Alage to Biodiesel

Arthur Killam, Research Plot Coordinator
University of Minnesota

Joseph King, Partner
Thermal Stability Systems

Jack Kiser, Research Manager
Sustainable Oils, LLC.

Bulent Koc, Assistant Professor
University of Missouri

Narasimharao Kondamudi, Chemical & Metalurgical Engineering
University of Nevada, Reno

Ron Korcak, Program Coordinator
Water Stewardship, Inc.

Kendall Lamkey, Professor and Chair
Iowa State University, Agronomy

Robert Last, Professor
Michigan State University

Kee Lee, Associate Professor of Microbiology
Lincoln University of Missouri

Mihchelle Londa, Research Professor
Texas State University

Madeleine Marshall, CFO
Edgefield Environmental Associates, LLC

John Massingill, Director CCBT
Texas State University

Dr. Sergey Mastistky
Buffalo State College

Dr. Robert McCormick
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Omarh Mendoza, Ph.D. Candidate in Animal Sciences
University of Illinois Animal Sciences - Swine

Konstantin Miatchine, Vice President
GMD BIO Advance inc,

Glenn Miller, Professor
University of Nevada

Susanta Mohapatra, Assistant Professor
University of Nevada Reno

Charles Mueller, Principal
Member of the Technical Staff Sandia National Laboratories

Rob Myers, Director
Jefferson Institute

Paul ki-Souk Nam, Assistant Professor
Missouri University of Science & Technology

Mark Knuth, Director of Biochemistry
Cibus US LLC

Seth Naeve, Associate Professor
University of Minnesota, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics

Fouad Nassiri, Laboratory Director
Atlas Laboratory

John Neel, President
Division Twelve Installation

C. Jerry Nelson, Professor Emeritus
University of Missouri

Richard Nelson, Engineer
Kansas State University

Scott Nisula, Chief Technical Officer
Delta BioFuels, Inc.

Reginald Noel, Production Manager
Groupe Biodiesel Haiti S.A.

Louis Ogaard, Project Director - Alternative Fuels
North Dakota State University, Botany

Dr. James Orf, Professor
University of Minnesota

Dr. Pulin Patel, Program Faculty
Texas State University, San Marcos

Thomas Payne, Vice Chancellor and Dean
University of Missouri

Winthrop Phippen, Associate Professor
Western Illinois University

Anup Pradhan, Research Assistant
University of Idaho

Sonny Ramaswamy, Director of Agricultural Research Programs
Purdue University

Bala Rathinasabapathi, Associate Professor
University of Florida

Serin Rao, COO
BioFuels Manufacturing of Illinois, LLC

Justin Robinson, Research Associate
Syngenta Seeds, Inc.

Dr. Charles Roe, Chief Technology Officer
Biofuel Producers of America, Inc.

Dr. Doug Root, Senior Scientist
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute

Richard Sayre, Director, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Ken Schneeberger, Professor
University of Missouri

Dr. Michael Schramm, Assistant Professor
CSU Long Beach

Leon G. Schumacher, Professor
University of Missouri

Dennis Short, Nutritionist
Land O' Lakes

Dev Shrestha, Assistant Professor
University of Idaho / National Biodiesel Education Program

Paul Siitonen, Lead Chemist
FDA/Nat. Ctr. for Toxicological Research

Joseph Sikorski, Research Director
Econobio

Bharat Singh, Professor
Fort Valley State University

Dr. Norman Slade, Professor
University of Kansas, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Gary Stacey, Professor
University of Missouri

Jeffrey R. Stephens, Director of Science and Technology
Propel Fuels

Bernie Tao, Professor
Purdue University

Charlie Tijerina, Owner/Operator
Desert Center Jatropha Farm

Jon H Van Gerpen, Department Head
University of Idaho

Randall von Wedel, Principal Biochemist
BioSolar / CytoCulture International

Dr. Edward Wene, Scientist
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute

Mark Vermeer, Professional Engineer
Virtuoso Biofuels Services

Ralph Whitesides, Professor and Extension Weed Specialist
Utah State University

William Wiebold, Professor
University of Missouri

Wendy Wintersteen, Dean
Iowa State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Melvin Yokoyama, Professor
Michigan State University

Scott Zednek, Geologist
Tierra Consulting Group

Members of the scientific community can add their support for the declaration here.