IOWA NEWS SERVICE
(A radio actuality)
April 19, 2007

An Earth Day Bio-fuels Reality Check

Des Moines, IA - A debate is emerging as more Iowa farmland is turned over to fuel production that makes less land available for food production and puts a strain on the state's environment. Comments from Eric Holt-Giminez of Food First and Julia Olstead, ISU grad student and a Fellow with the Land Institute.

Suggested script:  There is currently a stampede to build bio-fuel plants and switch thousands of acres of Iowa farmland to corn for ethanol production. Proponents of bio-fuels envision energy independence and a needed economic boost to rural America. But as Earth Day approaches, Eric Holt-Giminez of Food First, sees troubling signs for both the environment and the rural economy.

"We need to put the infrastructure in place to be able to produce and consume as locally as possible so we can revitalize local economies based on production and consumption of good, healthy food."

He says bio-fuels are not a long-term solution to rural economic ills...but food production for local sale is.  Julia Olstead is an ISU graduate student who is also a fellow with the Land Institute. She says when we expand crop production for fuel, it's destructive to the environment.

"As corn production expands, which it's doing, we see increases in soil erosion, increased nutrient runoff into our groundwater."

Suggested tag: She says food consumers and the environment will see little benefit in the rush to produce bio-fuels, and instead she believes it will hurt fuel conservation efforts as people are convinced they can continue to drive as much as they like as long as they use bio-fuels.

OPTIONAL REPORTER WRAP

LEAD:  Earth Day is coming up on Sunday, and some rural Iowans wonder about the wisdom of jumping on the latest environmental bandwagon...the idea of changing crops over to corn to produce ethanol. Chris Thomas reports.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]

Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp

To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see:
 http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp