Biofuel Economy, Development, and Food Security

Abstract

This paper describes the biofuel economy and food security in the current scenario, focusing on the competing demands for food and fuel. The biofuel economy is expected to increase rapidly in the twenty-first century. This increase may, however, disrupt the agri-food system that threatens food security. Understanding the diverse aspects of the agriculture landscape to meet the demands for food and biofuel that rely on agricultural biomass is essential to satisfy the needs of the exponentially growing global population. The concepts of industrial symbiosis and circular economy offer potential solutions to sustain the biofuel economy without putting at risk the supply of food and utilizing wastes and residues from the farm, including the refuse from food processing plants, as raw materials for biofuel generation are probable ways to optimize the overall productivity of agriculture towards addressing the requirements for food and biofuel. Also, adopting Smart Agriculture/Agriculture 4.0 is explored for the management of the entire agri-food supply chain from pre-production to post-harvest stage to sustain the biofuels endeavour without disrupting the food supply. Agriculture 4.0 can provide a holistic view of the agri-food system crucial in a circular economy to ensure efficiency in biofuel production and food security.