Will this turn out to be another attempt to convert more edible agriculture products into liquid fuel for our fuel guzzlers.

This trend is moving north. Canada is planning to open 10 more grain ethanol plants at about $250 million each to reach a 5% to 10% ethanol content. Simultaneaously, Canada will give the World Food Bank $250 million a year for the next 10 years to compensate and/or to make us feel better.

Is this a smart move? To knowingly create a food shortage and pay $billions to rectify some of the damages done?

Many believe that it would have been much wiser (an more sustainable) to invest the same ($2500 millions x 2 = $5000 millions) into an accellerated vehicle electrification program.

Why can't our politicians think longer terms?

Maybe it is just lack of knowledge on my part, but seed oils do not seem to be the way to go. One poster said that the plant uses a lot of energy making seeds. So, if that is the case then the seed is sort of an energy store for future sprouts.

I look at how many BTUs per acre. If you can get 100 gallons per acre of 140,000 BTU per gallon fuels versus 400 gallons of 70,000 BTU per gallon fuel, you are better off with the second case on that basis. There are other factors, but that is one of them.

Pressure needs to remain on waste cellulose to ethanol plants as replacement for first gen grain ethanol. All these solutions should be operating in parallel. Oil seeds should be replaced by algae; in poorer countries new markets for oilseeds should be balanced with local food production. With a good balance the oil seed revenue will pay for production and consumption of local food. All the while population growth needs management. Tricky, but doable with some thoughtful planning.