Biofuel crops 'are invasive' species

Biofuel crops such as Miscanthus and Giant Reed are invasive species, according to a recent article by IBTimes, who conducted biofuel analysis that suggested "the characteristics that make a plant useful as a source of biomass energy are the same characteristics that make a plant a potentially highly invasive species".

Plants that are selected for use in the biofuel industry, such as corn, are grown in such a way that could be damaging to the environment, according to the report. Properties such as rapid growth, competitiveness and tolerance of a wide range of climate conditions make them ideal for biofuel production, but detrimental to the environment.

New research has suggested that nearly half the species listed as threatened or endangered are at risk, at least in part, because of invasive species. In America, vines such as Asian Bittersweet and Honeysuckle are suffocating and strangling native trees, and many other species are overtaking ground on meadows.

This is an expensive issue, with billions of dollars being pumped into the environment in order to prevent the spread of invasive species. However, at the other end of the spectrum, similar amounts of money are being invested to grow crops for biofuel production. This is like a dog chasing its own tail, and signals the need for precaution when it comes to growing biomass feedstocks.

Steve Flick, board chair of the Show Me Energy Cooperative said: "You can make money and a help native wildlife by growing native plants for bioenergy.

"Missouri farmers are doing this right now as part of the Show Me Energy Cooperative, and it's a model that can work throughout the country."

Posted by Lauren Steadman