The production of bio fuels to replace oil and natural gas is in active development, focusing on the use of cheap organic matter (usually cellulose, agricultural and sewage waste). Although bio fuels are seen as a way to diminish our dependence on fossil fuels, many concerns have risen on the effect of raw material supply for animal feed.Introduction
Bio fuel production is hot and booming. The industry and its effect on feed and food are constantly in the news and it is hard to keep up with the number of new bio ethanol plants that are being built in primarily the USA and Europe.
Many people are convinced that bio energy is the solution to reduce the emission of CO2 in the atmosphere (and subsequently reduce global warming).
However, the whole bio energy industry has also some (major) side effects.
In this dossier, we point out some of the effects that the bio fuel industry has on the global animal feed business:
Fact sheets EuropaBio
EuropaBio, the biotechnology industry has produced a number of factsheets about biofuels. Read more >
What exactly is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is produced from vegetable oils and animal fats. The most popular oils used for biodiesel include soybean oil and restaurant grease.
Read more >
What exactly is bioethanol?
Ethanol is produced from sugar and starch crops including corn, barley, and wheat. Read more >
The global picture
World ethanol production is predicted to reach 50 billion litres in
2006 compared to the 44.9 billion litres produced in 2005.
Read more >
Availability of raw materials
Demand for biodiesel is strong, and the overall US market for diesel fuel is huge. But there simply aren't enough oil crops and animal fats available to supplant much of it. Read more >
Effect on feed prices
More and more companies active in the food and feed business are starting to
express their concerns about the rising prices of raw materials for feed and
food, due to the use of these ingredients for biofuel production.
Read more >
How biotechnology can help
Besides producing just more crops on more land, technology will play an even more important role in future feed production. Read more >
DDGS
Distillers Grain is an important co-product of dry mill ethanol production.
Read more >
Soybean cake
Soybean cake is a co-product from the biodiesel industry. It is created when soybeans are cold pressed to extract the oil. Read more >
Glycerol
Biodiesel that is produced from oil that is chemically treated with alcohol
or methanol produces a co-product called glycerol (glycerine).
Read more >
