First Generation Biofuels First Generation biofuels are prod | Upsc Environment

First Generation Biofuels

First Generation biofuels are produced directly from food crops by abstracting the oils for use in biodiesel or producing bioethanol through conventional methods like fermentation.

Crops such as wheat and sugar are the most widely used feedstock for bioethanol while rapeseed oil has proved a very effective crop for use in biodiesel.

First generation biofuels have a number of associated problems.

These biofuels can produce Negative Net energy gains, releasing more carbon in their production than their feedstock’s capture in their growth.

The most contentious issue with first generation biofuels is ‘fuel vs food’.

Biofuels from foodgrains has been blamed for the increase in food prices over the last couple of years.