Biotechnology And Biofuels On Environment Essay

Section 2.2:

Impact of biotechnology and biofuels on environment

Soil Health

Biotechnology is not an energy source but its processes can be used to produce biofuels (Demirbas, 2009). Biofuels promise a better sustainable and renewable energy source, however this issue is debateable (Jose et.al, 2008). Soil forms part of a complete ecosystem as it is a habitat for certain organisms hence its importance cannot be overemphasized. Marginal land can be referred to as low quality land that has low agricultural value. Most crops that are used for the production of biofuels are grown on marginal lands since they require less nutrients, this prevents the use of land that have good soil quality (Lian and Ghazoul, 2008). Farmers allow nutrient rich portions of the plant to decompose into the soil this helps to keep the soil in good quality (Jose et.al, 2008).

In the process of producing biofuels by using plants, rich and high quality land will be over-used as soybean and maize require fertile land for growth. This is so because the plants have to be produced at a large scale for a better yield. Soil erosion can arise due to complete harvesting of the crops (Jose et.al, 2008). Corn which is one of the plants used to produce biofuels requires intense irrigation and a serious environmental concern is raised by the use of fertilisers and pesticides. Biotechnology can be used to alter the crops so that their production does not harm the environment, however this might lower the process (Demirbas, 2009).

Biodiversity and tropical forests

Some biofuels that are derived from agricultural, forest-product, and municipal waste these have less impact on biodiversity as they use unwanted waste (Lian and Ghazoul, 2008). Biotechnology has a full potential...

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...such as skin cancer ( Giampietro and Mayumi.2009). Increase in fuel prices leads to increase in food prices so if there is high quantity of fuel the food prices will be affordable even for people in developing countries then this will lead to decreased level of poverty (Giampeatro and Mayumi. 2009).

Negative Impacts

The use of biofuels is paying a big role worldwide but the consequences faced as results of using them also brings about problems in societies ( Giampietro and Mayumi.2009) . In most developing countries the great number of population works in manufacturing industries so the use of machinery results in reduced amount of job opportunities ( Giampietro and Mayumi). Furthermore the use of plants in production of biofuels will lead in reduction of biodiversity as the specific plants used in their production will lead in the decrease due to high cultivation.