December 2010: The Center For International Forestry Research (CIFOR) has released a paper titled “Potential land use competition from first-generation biofuel expansion in developing countries.”

The paper warns that the risks of deforestation and conversion of agricultural land are high if large-scale biofuel development is not effectively regulated, which could lead to loss of vital ecosystem services and undermine food security and rural development. It further notes that globally, the threat of land use competition is especially severe for oil palm and sugarcane cultivation. However, it notes that the land use required to service the expected growth in industrialized markets for biofuel is relatively small. The paper emphasizes the need for a country to have a national energy security agenda before targeting export markets with domestic biofuels.

CIFOR is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). [Publication: Potential Land Use Competition from First-generation Biofuel Expansion in Developing Countries]