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.