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Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States (2008)

Chapter: Appendix A: Agenda for the Colloquium on Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States

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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Agenda for the Colloquium on Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States." National Research Council. 2008. Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12039.
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Page 63
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Agenda for the Colloquium on Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States." National Research Council. 2008. Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12039.
×
Page 64
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Agenda for the Colloquium on Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States." National Research Council. 2008. Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12039.
×
Page 65
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Agenda for the Colloquium on Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States." National Research Council. 2008. Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12039.
×
Page 66

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Appendix A Agenda for the Colloquium on Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States July 12, 2007 The National Academy of Sciences Building Lecture Room 2100 C St. N.W. Washington, D.C. 7:30–8:30 Breakfast available in the Great Hall 8:30–8:45 Break 8:45–9:00 Welcome and brief introductions Jerry Schnoor (U. of Iowa) Steve Parker (WSTB) 9:00–9:15 Introductory remarks—setting the context Otto Doering (Purdue) Topic #1: How much additional water, if any, might be required to grow different kinds of biomass? Is there going to be “enough” water to produce as much biofuel as we want where we want it? 9:15–10:15 9:15 Initial presentation Noel Gollehon (USDA/ERS) 9:35 Discussants Rick Allen, (U. Idaho–Kimberly); Steve Kaffka, (UC–Davis) 9:55 Open discussion Dara Entekhabi (MIT) 63

64 Appendix A Topic #2: What are the possible, or likely, water quality effects associated with increases in growing different kinds of biomass? 10:15–11:15 10:15 Initial presentation Rick Cruse (Iowa State) 10:35 Discussants Janice Ward (USGS); Liz Marshall (WRI) 10:55 Open discussion David Tilman (University of Minnesota) 11:15–11:30 Break Topic #3: What will be the water requirements of the production plants themselves, and what water quality problems may be associated with them? 11:30–12:30 11:30 Initial presentation Mark Holtzapple (Texas A&M) 11:50 Discussants Dennis Keeney (IATP); Fran Kremer (EPA/ORD) 12:10 Open discussion Ted Hullar (Cornell) 12:30–1:30 Lunch Topic #4: What are new and promising agricultural practices and technologies that might help us out by cutting water use or minimizing pollution? 1:30–2:30 1:30 Initial presentation Wendy Graham (University of Florida) 1:50 Discussants Richard Nelson (Kansas State University) Mark Alley (Va. Tech) 2:10 Open discussion Ed Hiler (Texas A&M)

Appendix A 65 Topic #5: What policy, regulatory, and legal changes might help moderate any water use conflicts and mitigate any water quality issues? 2:30–3:30 2:30 Initial presentation Daniel de la Torre Ugarte (University of Tennessee) 2:50 Discussants Wally Tyner (Purdue); Craig Cox (Soil and Water Conservation Soc.) 3:10 Open discussion Otto Doering (Purdue) 3:30–3:45 Break 3:45–4:45 Guided discussion—“Key Themes” Jerry Schnoor (U. of Iowa) 4:45 p.m. Adjourn

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National interests in greater energy independence, concurrent with favorable market forces, have driven increased production of corn-based ethanol in the United States and research into the next generation of biofuels. The trend is changing the national agricultural landscape and has raised concerns about potential impacts on the nation's water resources. To help illuminate these issues, the National Research Council held a colloquium on July 12, 2007 in Washington, DC. Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States, based in part on discussions at the colloquium, concludes that if projected future increases in use of corn for ethanol production do occur, the increase in harm to water quality could be considerable from the increases in fertilizer use, pesticide use, and soil erosion associated with growing crops such as corn. Water supply problems could also develop, both from the water needed to grow biofuels crops and water used at ethanol processing plants, especially in regions where water supplies are already overdrawn. The production of "cellulosic ethanol," derived from fibrous material such as wheat straw, native grasses, and forest trimmings is expected to have less water quality impact but cannot yet be produced on a commerical scale. To move toward a goal of reducing water impacts of biofuels, a policy bridge will likely be needed to encourage growth of new technologies, best agricultural practies, and the development of traditional and cellulosic crops that require less water and fertilizer and are optimized for fuel production.

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