Bioeconomy Community Conversation: Food, Feed & Fuel

There has been much attention focused on the food versus fuel debate in recent months. We have witnessed record high prices paid for many items ranging from the gas we put in our cars to the food that we provide for our families. This issue has many people questioning the use of the traditional food and feed components of corn and soybeans as feedstock to ethanol and biodiesel production.

As Iowans formulate opinions on this issue they are asking tough questions that deserve unbiased answers based on facts. Iowa State University Extension has been a leader in providing research based information to help Iowans make quality decisions and is positioned to assist with this issue as well.

Our objectives are to present the facts, relating to the food, feed and fuel issue, and to seek your opinion as we shape Iowa’s future together.

The follwoing presentations were given:

Bioeconomy Community Conversations II: Food, Feed and Fuel (Overview) [Time: 12:56]
Jack Payne, Vice President for Extension and Outreach
Iowa's Position in Global Agriculture and Bioenergy [Time 13:35]
Chad Hart, Department of Economics
Renewable Energy's Place in the High Energy Cost Picture [Time 16:22]
Dan Otto, Department of Economics
Food and Fuel: Enough Grain but Not Enough Processing [Time 14:30]
Charles R. Hurburgh, Jr., Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Factors that Determine the Cost of Food [Time 16:55]
John Lawrence, Department of Economics
Rising Energy and Food Prices: Effects on Families [Time 13:05]
Cynthia Needles Fletcher, Department of Human Development and Family Studies
From Vulnerability to Resiliency: Iowa Agriculture in the Age of Biorenewables [Time 23:36]
J. Arbuckle, Department of Sociology

The following White Papers were discussed:

Bringing Communities Together for Bioeconomy Discussion (Overview)

Iowa's Position in Global Agriculture and Bioenergy, Chad Hart

Renewable Energy's Place in the High Energy Cost Picture, Dan Otto

Food and Fuel: Enough Grain but Not Enough Processing, Charles Hurburgh and John Lawrence

Factors that Determine the Cost of Food, Chad Hart and John Lawrence

Rising Energy and Food Prices: Effects on Families, Cynthia Needles Fletcher

From Vulnerability to Resiliency: Iowa Agriculture in the Age of Biorenewables, J. Gordon Arbuckle, Matt Helmers, Matt Liebman, Lisa Schulte

The discussion group for Clay County was held on Thursday, November 20th at 11:00 am at the Clay County Extension Office. Participants joined in the conversations and provided input relating to bioeconomy topics.

Author: K. Rice Date: 12/9/2008