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The Future of Biofuels in an Electrifying Global Transportation Sector: Imperative, Prospects and Challenges

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  • Deepayan Debnath
  • Madhu Khanna
  • Deepak Rajagopal
  • David Zilberman

Abstract

Low carbon alternatives are an imperative for decarbonizing the transportation sector. There is growing interest in electrification of transportation but even with aggressive growth in sales, a significant share of transportation is expected to rely on liquid fuel by midcentury. Biofuels are appealing as low carbon fuels but those produced from food crops generate a food vs. fuel dilemma. We discuss the prospects for expanding biofuels, while mitigating the competition with food production though a transition to second generation biofuels from biomass as well as the potential for biotechnology to transform the agricultural sector globally to increase crop productivity and make biofuels and food production complementary. We highlight the role for policy, technological innovations, and institutions to achieve increased food and biofuel production.

Suggested Citation

  • Deepayan Debnath & Madhu Khanna & Deepak Rajagopal & David Zilberman, 2019. "The Future of Biofuels in an Electrifying Global Transportation Sector: Imperative, Prospects and Challenges," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(4), pages 563-582, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:apecpp:v:41:y:2019:i:4:p:563-582
    DOI: 10.1093/aepp/ppz023
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    Cited by:

    1. Víctor Correa-Porcel & Laura Piedra-Muñoz & Emilio Galdeano-Gómez, 2021. "Water–Energy–Food Nexus in the Agri-Food Sector: Research Trends and Innovating Practices," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-31, December.
    2. Madhu Khanna & Ruiqing Miao, 2022. "Inducing the adoption of emerging technologies for sustainable intensification of food and renewable energy production: insights from applied economics," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 66(1), pages 1-23, January.
    3. Dumortier, Jerome & Elobeid, Amani & Carriquiry, Miguel, 2022. "Light-duty vehicle fleet electrification in the United States and its effects on global agricultural markets," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    4. Shelare, Sagar D. & Belkhode, Pramod N. & Nikam, Keval Chandrakant & Jathar, Laxmikant D. & Shahapurkar, Kiran & Soudagar, Manzoore Elahi M. & Veza, Ibham & Khan, T.M. Yunus & Kalam, M.A. & Nizami, Ab, 2023. "Biofuels for a sustainable future: Examining the role of nano-additives, economics, policy, internet of things, artificial intelligence and machine learning technology in biodiesel production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    5. Miller, Jesse & Clark, Christopher M. & Peterson, Steve & Newes, Emily, 2024. "Estimated attribution of the RFS program on soybean biodiesel in the U.S. using the bioenergy scenario model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    6. Zhuo Chen & Bo Yan & Hanwen Kang, 2022. "Dynamic correlation between crude oil and agricultural futures markets," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 1798-1849, August.
    7. Dumortier, Jerome, 2024. "Vehicle electrification and fuel economy policies: Impacts on agricultural land-use in the United States," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    8. Wu, Jy S. & Tseng, Hui-Kuan & Liu, Xiaoshuai, 2022. "Techno-economic assessment of bioenergy potential on marginal croplands in the U.S. southeast," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    9. Jerome Dumortier & Miguel Carriquiry & Amani Elobeid, 2023. "Interactions Between U.S. Vehicle Electrification, Climate Change, and Global Agricultural Markets," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 84(1), pages 99-123, January.

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