Grain strain grown for ethanol

Biofuel Association CEO Bruce Harrison at the 2008 Ethanol Conference in Sydney.

Last week there was a conference on all things ethanol in Sydney, and despite the number of people at the Darling Harbor exhibition center and the number of topics, there were still more questions than answers.

Even automakers led by ethanol-focused Volvo and Saab remained unanswered on key questions, saying they still don't know about distribution, fuel quality, when it will become more common, and how Australian manufacturers plan to manage their industry. .

It is clear that ethanol can and will have a place in the transition from a world based on oil to something more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Even the world of V8 supercars is planning to switch to ethanol fuel.

But there are big challenges, from finding a pump to deliver something more than just a small blend of ethanol, to overcoming the public's fear of a fuel that came under attack less than two years ago because it was a way to make money off unleaded blends at a reduced price. .

I really want ethanol to flourish, but most of the talk in Sydney seems to have been about whether the world should be growing crops for food or fuel, because if we use all the grain to make ethanol, there's a good chance we'll lose weight at least.

Increasing ethanol levels will require a concerted effort, and everyone will follow the same path. It hasn't happened yet.

How do you think? Should the world grow crops for food or fuel?