Chicago Botanic Garden Statement on Biofuels
Biofuels are liquid fuels derived from plant materials (including algae). Bioethanol and biodiesel are the two primary categories of biofuel.
The Chicago Botanic Garden does not have an official opinion on the economic aspects of biofuels. The economics of biofuels can be quite complex, and in some cases, there are real questions as to whether the biofuel yields a significant net positive energy contribution, but these questions often are not directly related to the Garden’s area of expertise in environmental biology.
There are a number of environmental considerations relevant to the biofuel industry that the Chicago Botanic Garden believes are important:
- Native habitats should not be destroyed to produce the raw materials for biofuel production. In addition, native habitats that can be rejuvenated through habitat restoration should not be used for biofuel production.
- Plant species that are regarded as invasive or noxious weeds should not be used as the basis for biofuel production.
- Biofuel species that have a negative impact on pollinators should be avoided.
- Biofuel species that require significant input of fertilizer and/or irrigation should not be used. Excessive application of fertilizers may damage native habitats and increased irrigation will exacerbate water shortages in drier areas of the United States and the world.
The Chicago Botanic Garden advocates careful case-by-case evaluation of species proposed for biofuel production to determine what, if any, environmental risks are associated with commercial biofuel production.