Should I continue to run my car on biodiesel?

Question

Food prices appear to be rising due to the increased demand for biodiesel. I do not want to contribute to a global food shortage or increased hunger in developing countries so that I can alleviate my guilt about emitting pollution and green house gases. What is the right thing to do for the planet and human kind?

Answer 1

You've already put your resources into it, it'd be wasteful NOT to use it. And if you really have a problem with 'guilt', ride your bicycle instead. Or grow up and realize that you are responsible for YOUR part of the planet, not the whole d*** thing!

Answer 2

Food prices are not rising due to the demand for bio diesel corn prices are higher because of the demand for ethanol. But for the most part the rise of food prices is due to the cost of fuel to ship that food across the country, I know my family our farmers here in the southwest and shipping cost has doubled in the last few years so don't blame it on bio-diesel blame it on the current fuel prices. Bio diesel uses used cooking which is the most popular for the home brewers of bio diesel but there is no large scale production of bio diesel to affect food prices, I know soy bean oil and canola oil is used to make bio diesel but because of the limited amount of bio diesel produced it hasn't been that affective so for the most part it hasn't affected food prices yet. For bio diesel the research is pushing for the use of algae to make bio diesel I am surprised at the amount of people that don't know  that. There are two company's working on it here in the southwest, Green-fuel and Velcant they are using algae to make bio diesel with no affect to the food market. If you are really that worried about use bio-diesel made form used cooking oil that's really recycling and that always good.

Answer 3

Even if the biodiesel is derived from non-food crops, the crops will displace food production.  Coal and petroleum have actually been a net benefit for both the environment and food security in a number of ways; prior to the Industrial revolution, most everyday products were derived from agriculture:

-Wood and animal dung were burned as fuel, leading to deforestation and heavy air pollution.  Coal and oil deliver more energy and produce less smoke, and no trees are destroyed.  This is the main reason that forest cover has increased in the western world over the past century.

-Fabric dyes were derived from plants (such as indigo) that were cultivated for that purpose.  During the Victorian era, chemists discovered that many dyes could be produced more cheaply from coal tar so the land was freed up for food production.

-Synthetic fibres derived from petroleum and coal tar dramatically reduced the demand for cotton, linen and hemp.

Answer 4

I just heard a quote on the radio that said for what it would take to fill one car tank with biodiesel, we could feed a person for a year with that grain. Considering our world hunger, that just doesn't seem like an appropriate solution to me.

Answer 5

There is no food crisis

The world produces more than enough food

It is what happens to it that causes the crisis.

More than Half is diverted for the production of Ethanol.

http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/...

And this is the main reason for social unrest and the rising food prices,This is only the beginning

http://us.oneworld.net/article/view/1599...

This is a political issue and the reasons are profits.

so the profits will win the day.

Not the poor Poor.

Famines are allowed to happen ,as part of a depopulation strategy.

my answer the 13th one down check the links

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

The problems originate from the control so there is no solution

the production  of ethanol produces more carbon emissions than all of the motor cars and industry in the world

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

And still it continues and grows.

Global solutions are NOT the agenda Global control IS

we should be looking at Starwars modes of transport

and kill the internal combustion engine ,but those who lead us also own this industry (both the petrol and the cars)and as yet there is plenty of money to made with it

there are other ways to make fuel

keep deep eating deep fries and use the old oil

or check some of the electric cars in HUDDLER

http://byderule.multiply.com/journal/ite...

Answer 6

At the moment there is a lot of debate about food crops and food producing land being used to produce bio-diesel and how this could contribute to famine and rising costs of foods. This is a fine balance but there is also the question about the impact that burning fossil fuels has on the planet.

It's difficult to know the origin of biodiesel but I ask my supplier if it comes from non-food crops and he informs me it does. So I use it mixed with ordinary diesel. In any event, my car runs better and it's cheaper for me. I'd say keep on using biodiesel until some government rules against it and then look to your conscience.

Answer 7

If it runs well you have your answer. However, the fuel is made at this time to be a summer time fuel, and your car will not start if used in cold climates during winter.

Answer 8

If you use recycled cooking oil and grease then yes.  These are waste products and not "food".  

Besides, you are reducing the amount of oil we buy and therefore helping to drive down demand.  This should reduce fuel and shipping costs for the growers, transporters, and consumers of foods which will lower prices for consumers.