Title |
Land usage attributed to corn ethanol production in the United States: sensitivity to technological advances in corn grain yield, ethanol conversion, and co-product utilization
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Published in |
Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts, April 2014
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DOI | 10.1186/1754-6834-7-61 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Rita H Mumm, Peter D Goldsmith, Kent D Rausch, Hans H Stein |
Abstract |
Although the system for producing yellow corn grain is well established in the US, its role among other biofeedstock alternatives to petroleum-based energy sources has to be balanced with its predominant purpose for food and feed as well as economics, land use, and environmental stewardship. We model land usage attributed to corn ethanol production in the US to evaluate the effects of anticipated technological change in corn grain production, ethanol processing, and livestock feeding through a multi-disciplinary approach. Seven scenarios are evaluated: four considering the impact of technological advances on corn grain production, two focused on improved efficiencies in ethanol processing, and one reflecting greater use of ethanol co-products (that is, distillers dried grains with solubles) in diets for dairy cattle, pigs, and poultry. For each scenario, land area attributed to corn ethanol production is estimated for three time horizons: 2011 (current), the time period at which the 15 billion gallon cap for corn ethanol as per the Renewable Fuel Standard is achieved, and 2026 (15 years out). |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 6 | 22% |
Hungary | 1 | 4% |
Unknown | 20 | 74% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 25 | 93% |
Scientists | 1 | 4% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 4% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 2 | 2% |
Indonesia | 1 | <1% |
Australia | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 100 | 96% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Master | 21 | 20% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 13 | 13% |
Student > Bachelor | 13 | 13% |
Researcher | 12 | 12% |
Other | 7 | 7% |
Other | 16 | 15% |
Unknown | 22 | 21% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 27 | 26% |
Engineering | 12 | 12% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 8 | 8% |
Environmental Science | 8 | 8% |
Energy | 4 | 4% |
Other | 15 | 14% |
Unknown | 30 | 29% |