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Biofuel and the BP-UC Berkeley Research Deal: A "Win-Win" Agenda?

By Miguel A. Altieri and Eric Holt-Gimenez

With royal fanfare, British Petroleum just donated $500 million in research funds for UC Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of Illinois to develop new sources of energy—primarily biotechnology to produce biofuel crops. This comes on the anniversary of Berkeley’s hapless research deal with seed giant Novartis ten years ago. However, at half a billion dollars, the BP grant dwarfs Novartis’ investment by a factor of 10. The graphics of the announcement were unmistakable: BP’s corporate logo is perfectly aligned with the flags of the Nation, the State, and the University.

CEO/Chairman Robert A. Malone proclaimed BP was “joining some of the world’s best science and engineering talent to meet the demand for low carbon energy … we will be working to improve and expand the production of clean, renewable energy through the development of better crops…” This partnership reflects the rapid, unchecked and unprecedented global corporate alignment of the world’s largest agribusiness (ADM, Cargill and Bunge), biotech (Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer, Dupont), petroleum (BP, TOTAL, Shell), and automotive industries (Volkswagen, Peugeot, Citroen, Renault, SAAB). With what for them is a relatively small investment, these industries will appropriate academic expertise built over decades of public support, translating into billions in revenues for these global partners.

Could this be a “win-win” agenda for the university, the public, the environment and industry? Hardly. In addition to overwhelming the university’s research agenda, what scientists behind this blatantly private business venture fail to mention is that the apparent free lunch of crop-based fuel can’t satisfy our energy appetite, and it will not be free or environmentally sound.

Dedicating all present U.S. corn and soybean production to biofuels would meet only 12 percent of our gasoline demand and 6 percent of diesel demand. Total U.S. cropland reaches 625,000 square miles. To replace U.S. oil consumption with biofuels, we would need 1.4 million sq.mi. of corn for ethanol and 8.8 million square miles of soybean for biodiesel. Biofuels are expected to turn Iowa and South Dakota into corn-importers by 2008.

The biofuel energy balance—the amount of fossil energy put into producing crop biomass compared to that coming out—is anything but promising. Researchers Patzek and Pimentel see serious negative energy balances with biofuels. Other researchers see only 1.2 to 1.8 returns, for ethanol at best, with the jury still lukewarm on cellulosic biofuels.

Industrial methods of corn and soybean production depend on large-scale monocultures. Industrial corn requires high levels of chemical nitrogen fertilizer (largely responsible for the dead zone in Gulf of Mexico) and the herbicide atrazine an endocrine disruptor. Soybeans require massive amounts of non-selective, Roundup herbicide that upsets soil ecology and produce “superweeds.” Both monocultures produce massive topsoil erosion and surface and groundwater pollution from pesticides and fertilizer runoff. Each gallon of ethanol sucks up three to four gallons of water in the production of biomass. The expansion of irrigated “fuel on the cob” into drier areas in the Midwest will draw down the already suffering Ogallala aquifer.

One of the more surreptitious industrial motives of the biofuels agenda—and the reason Monsanto and company are key players—is the opportunity to irreversibly convert agriculture to genetically engineered crops (GMOs). Presently, 52 percent of corn, 89 percent of soy, and 50 percent of canola in the United States is GMO. The expansion of biofuels with “designer corn” genetically tailored for special ethanol processing plants will remove all practical barriers to the permanent contamination of all non-GMO crops.

Obviously the United States can’t satisfy its energy appetite with biofuels. Instead, fuel crops will be grown in the developing world on large-scale plantations of sugarcane, oil palm and soybean already replacing primary and secondary tropical forests and grasslands in Argentina, Brasil, Colombia, Ecuador and Malaysia. Soybeans have already caused the destruction of over 91 million acres of forests and grasslands in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia. To satisfy world market demands, Brasil alone will need to clear 148 million additional acres of forest. Reduction of greenhouse gases is lost when carbon-capturing forests are felled to make way for biofuel crops.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of small-scale peasant farmers are being displaced by soybeans expansion. Many more stand to lose their land under the biofuels stampede. Already, the expanding cropland planted to yellow corn for ethanol has reduced the supply of white corn for tortillas in Mexico, sending prices up 400 percent. This led peasant leaders at the recent World Social Forum in Nairobi to demand, “No full tanks when there are still empty bellies!”

By promoting large-scale mechanized monocultures which require agrochemical inputs and machinery, and as carbon-capturing forests are felled to make way for biofuel crops, CO2 emissions will increase not decrease. The only way to stop global warming is to promote small-scale organic agriculture and decrease the use of all fuels, which requires major reductions in consumption patterns and development of massive public transportation systems, areas that the University of California should be actively researching and that BP and the other biofuel partners will never invest one penny towards.

The potential consequences for the environment and society of BP’s funding are deeply disturbing. In the wake of the report of the external review of the UCB-Novartis agreement that recommended that the university not enter into such agreements in the future, how could such a major deal be announced without wide consultation of the UC faculty? The university has been recruited into a corporate partnership that may irreversibly transform the plant’s food and fuel systems and concentrating tremendous power in the hands of a few corporate partners.

It is up to the citizens of California to hold the university accountable to research that supports truly sustainable alternatives to the energy crisis. A serious public debate on this new program is long overdue.

Miguel A. Altieri is a professor at UC Berkeley and Eric Holt-Gimenez is executive director of Oakland’s Food First. http://www.foodfirst.org/ This article first appeared in the Berkeley Daily Planet, and is republished with their permission..

Posted on February 07, 2007

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CURRICULUM VITAE

Name : GHANASHYAM BHANJA
Father’s Name : Mr. Muralidhar Bhanja
Date of Birth : February 21st 1979
Marital Status (Gander) : Single (Male)
Nationality : Indian
Languages Known : English, Hindi, Oriya & Bengali
Correspondence Address : Basudevpur,Jathia,Singla,
Dist-Balasore,Orissa-756023
INDIA
E- mail : ghanashyam_bhanja@rediffmail.com
Fax No : 0680- 2243764
Mobile : +919903756323
Academic Qualifications
Exams.
Passed Subject (s) Board/ University Year of passing % of marks
M. Phil.
( Botany) An in vitro Plant Assay System to evaluate Genotoxicity of Environmental Chemicals. Berhampur University 2006 64.0
M. Sc.
(Botany)

(Special Paper: Microbiology and Microbial Technology)., Molecular Biology, Cytogenetics, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Biostatistics, Ecology and Biodiversity Berhampur University 2002 70.3
B. Sc.
( Botany ) (Hons.)
Botany, Chemistry, Zoology, English, Elec. Utkal University 1999 60 (H)
56.16 (P)

+ 2 Science Physics ,Chemistry Biology, English C H S E Orissa State
1996 44.36
10th Mathematics, English, Social Science, General Science BS E Orissa State 1994 59.73

Employment Particulars :

• As a Project Assistant in a Daimler-Chrysler, Germany sponsored project entitled : “Biofuels from eroded soils in India using jatropha plants”, at Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI, CSIR) Bhavnagar Gujarat, at their Berhampur Field unit.From-1-6-2004 to 13-3-2007. Salary- 8,000/-p.m (Fixed)
●Presently working a General Manager at Biodiesel Technologies,Kolkata,from 14-3-007 to till date,Salary-10,000/-+ Other allowances.
Professional Experience:
• Two-years research experience in the field of Plant Tissue Culture and Cytogenetics.
• Three years experience in experiment related to Jatropha curcas L. the Biodiesel plant regarding productivity.
Computer Proficiency:
1. Sound orientation in Windows Operating System and Internet Usage
Hands on Experience and Exposure
1. Tissue Culture Techniques
• Micro propagation
• Preparation of different media
• Sterilisation and inoculation of explants
• Hardening of plants
2. Chromosome staining techniques
• Haematoxylin
• Aceto carmine
3. Gel electrophorosis.
4. Agronomic experiments and phenonological and morphological study on Jatropha curcas L.
Special Training / Seminar / Symposium :
• National level workshop-cum-training Programme on Bioinformatics and statistics sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, New Delhi held at CIFA, (ICAR) Institute, Bhubaneswar from 7- 10 February, 2006 .
• State level seminar on Conservation and Protection of environment organised by the Department of Botany, Berhampur University on 5th
June 2005.
Declaration
I, do, hereby declare that the facts furnished above are true to the best of my
Knowledge and belief.
Date:
Place: (Ghanashyam Bhanja)

List of References

1. Dr. J. S. Patolia ,
Discipline Co-ordinator
Phytosalinity Discipline
Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR)
Gijubhai Badheka Marg, Bhavnagar,- 364002,
Gujarat, India. Tel. – 0278 – 2567760(O), Fax – 0278 – 2567562
E-mail – patolia@csmcri.org

2. Dr. M. P. Reddy
Sr. Scientist
Phytosalinity Discipline
Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR)
Gijubhai Badheka Marg, Bhavnagar,- 364002,
Gujarat, India. Tel. – 0278 – 2567760(O), Fax – 0278 – 2567562
E-mail – mpr@csmcri.org

3. Dr. B. B. Panda
Professor
Molecular Biology and Tissue Culture Laboratory
Department of Botany
Berhampur University
Orissa, India,PIN: 760 007
Tel. – 0680 – 2242172 / 174 EXT 233
E-mail – brahma_panda@yahoo.com

Posted by: Ghanashyam Bhanja at June 27, 2007 04:06 AM

CURRICULUM VITAE

Name : GHANASHYAM BHANJA
Father’s Name : Mr. Muralidhar Bhanja
Date of Birth : February 21st 1979
Marital Status (Gander) : Single (Male)
Nationality : Indian
Languages Known : English, Hindi, Oriya & Bengali
Correspondence Address : Basudevpur,Jathia,Singla,
Dist-Balasore,Orissa-756023
INDIA
E- mail : ghanashyam_bhanja@rediffmail.com
Fax No : 0680- 2243764
Mobile : +919903756323
Academic Qualifications
Exams.
Passed Subject (s) Board/ University Year of passing % of marks
M. Phil.
( Botany) An in vitro Plant Assay System to evaluate Genotoxicity of Environmental Chemicals. Berhampur University 2006 64.0
M. Sc.
(Botany)

(Special Paper: Microbiology and Microbial Technology)., Molecular Biology, Cytogenetics, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Biostatistics, Ecology and Biodiversity Berhampur University 2002 70.3
B. Sc.
( Botany ) (Hons.)
Botany, Chemistry, Zoology, English, Elec. Utkal University 1999 60 (H)
56.16 (P)

+ 2 Science Physics ,Chemistry Biology, English C H S E Orissa State
1996 44.36
10th Mathematics, English, Social Science, General Science BS E Orissa State 1994 59.73

Employment Particulars :

• As a Project Assistant in a Daimler-Chrysler, Germany sponsored project entitled : “Biofuels from eroded soils in India using jatropha plants”, at Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI, CSIR) Bhavnagar Gujarat, at their Berhampur Field unit.From-1-6-2004 to 13-3-2007. Salary- 8,000/-p.m (Fixed)
●Presently working a General Manager at Biodiesel Technologies,Kolkata,from 14-3-007 to till date,Salary-10,000/-+ Other allowances.
Professional Experience:
• Two-years research experience in the field of Plant Tissue Culture and Cytogenetics.
• Three years experience in experiment related to Jatropha curcas L. the Biodiesel plant regarding productivity.
Computer Proficiency:
1. Sound orientation in Windows Operating System and Internet Usage
Hands on Experience and Exposure
1. Tissue Culture Techniques
• Micro propagation
• Preparation of different media
• Sterilisation and inoculation of explants
• Hardening of plants
2. Chromosome staining techniques
• Haematoxylin
• Aceto carmine
3. Gel electrophorosis.
4. Agronomic experiments and phenonological and morphological study on Jatropha curcas L.
Special Training / Seminar / Symposium :
• National level workshop-cum-training Programme on Bioinformatics and statistics sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, New Delhi held at CIFA, (ICAR) Institute, Bhubaneswar from 7- 10 February, 2006 .
• State level seminar on Conservation and Protection of environment organised by the Department of Botany, Berhampur University on 5th
June 2005.
Declaration
I, do, hereby declare that the facts furnished above are true to the best of my
Knowledge and belief.
Date:
Place: (Ghanashyam Bhanja)

List of References

1. Dr. J. S. Patolia ,
Discipline Co-ordinator
Phytosalinity Discipline
Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR)
Gijubhai Badheka Marg, Bhavnagar,- 364002,
Gujarat, India. Tel. – 0278 – 2567760(O), Fax – 0278 – 2567562
E-mail – patolia@csmcri.org

2. Dr. M. P. Reddy
Sr. Scientist
Phytosalinity Discipline
Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR)
Gijubhai Badheka Marg, Bhavnagar,- 364002,
Gujarat, India. Tel. – 0278 – 2567760(O), Fax – 0278 – 2567562
E-mail – mpr@csmcri.org

3. Dr. B. B. Panda
Professor
Molecular Biology and Tissue Culture Laboratory
Department of Botany
Berhampur University
Orissa, India,PIN: 760 007
Tel. – 0680 – 2242172 / 174 EXT 233
E-mail – brahma_panda@yahoo.com

Posted by: Ghanashyam Bhanja at June 27, 2007 04:09 AM

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Biofuel and the BP-UC Berkeley Research Deal: A "Win-Win" Agenda?

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