[SustainableTompkins] Cornell and Biofuels Research

[Elan Shapiro]

Maybe I'm naive, but I am impressed and moved by 
the tone and substance of this exchange. I'd love 
to hear others' take on it.
Elan

>>Dear President Skorton
>>As a faculty member and a planetary citizen, I 
>>am a deeply concerned about the negative impact 
>>of the current industrial-scale biofuel 
>>revolution on our collective wellbeing. I am 
>>specifically concerned about Cornell's support 
>>for this booming industry, as in the current 
>>biofuel conference it is sponsoring.
>>Based on all that I have seen so far, I trust 
>>your integrity and good will. And I understand 
>>that you are just at the beginning of what I 
>>hope will be a long tenure at Cornell. I know 
>>that rethinking Cornell's ties to a huge 
>>industry that seems to be involved with 
>>benefiting the planet would be a major, major 
>>move. But I strongly urge you to consider doing 
>>so, given the gravity of biofuels' immediate 
>>and long term negative impacts. Biofuels , in 
>>the industrial scale model being promoted, 
>>shift the global climate problem from one 
>>sector of society to another (once again, to 
>>the least privileged), but do not get to the 
>>source of the problem, which is our 
>>car-centered and consumption-centered economy 
>>and culture.  
>>
>>To understand why I consider this situation so 
>>urgent and of utmost ecological and 
>>humanitarian significance, please consider 
>>reading the article below.
>>Thanks for your consideration.
>>Appreciatively,
>>Elan Shapiro
>>
>>An Agricultural Crime Against Humanity
>>Biofuels could kill more people than the Iraq war.
>>By George Monbiot. Published in the Guardian 6th November 2007
>><http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2007/11/06/an-agricultural-crime-aga>http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2007/11/06/an-agricultural-crime-against-humanity/



>From: "David J. Skorton" <President at cornell.edu>
>
>Dear Elan,
>
>Many thanks for your e-mail and my apologies for 
>the delayed response.  The final weeks of the 
>first term were hectic and I am just now getting 
>to a backlog of e-mails.
>
>I do appreciate having your thoughts and am glad 
>you took the time to write.  I plan to forward 
>your communication to others who are working in 
>this area so that they have the benefit of your 
>views as well.
>
>With best regards,
>David Skorton


Hi Elan,

While there are definitely ways to get biofuels 
(and other energy systems) wrong, the whole point 
of research is to see if, where and how we might 
get it right.
That is what Universities can address. If 
biofuels are to be used, they will be one of many 
future energy systems that contribute to the mix.
Of course, the mix of energy systems that are 
employed will depend on many factors, including 
local resources, social and political factors, 
and the state of technologies such as wind, 
solar, energy storage and other renewable 
systems. Open and first rate research in all 
fields related to sustainabiltiy, such as 
sociology, economics, agriculture, engineering, 
science, government, etc., is, in my opinion, a 
very important factor in getting this right. This 
research needs to be communicated through 
education and outreach and needs to inform policy 
makers.

I agree with you that conservation, efficiency 
and lifestyle choices will also be essential if 
the future is to be sustainable and if we are to 
address the needs of the worlds poorest.

Thank you for your interest and passion around sustainability.

Frank DiSalvo
>Director, Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future


>
Dear Elan:

Your Email message to President Skorton 
expressing concerns about Cornell’s biofuels 
research activities was shared with me and I 
thought that it would be appropriate for me to 
respond.  I was the organizer for the biofuels 
feedstock summit that you mentioned in your 
Email, and I am Director of the Northeast Sun 
Grant Institute of Excellence with responsibility 
for orchestrating a regional approach to 
biofuels, biopower and bioproducts development 
here in the Northeast.

Sustainable development of plant-based resources 
for biofuels, biopower and bioproducts has been a 
core theme of the Northeast Sun Grant Initiative 
(NESGI) from the very beginning.  My land grant 
colleagues across the region have been strong 
advocates of the sustainable development of the 
biobased economy for the Northeast, and these 
colleagues have not sold out to huge companies. 
If you were in attendance at this summit you 
would have noticed that the paradigm of 
sustainable development of feedstock production 
was core to all of the discussions and planning 
activities.

In many respects the NESGI has been a national 
champion for sustainable feedstock and energy 
production, and economic development.  By and 
large we do not represent the big corn producing 
states with vested interest in corn-based 
ethanol, and we are interested in a broad 
spectrum of plant-based resources and organic 
wastes that can be used to meet energy and 
product needs of the Northeast Region.  We have 
embraced an "industrial ecology" approach to 
biofuels, biopower and bioproducts , a system 
perspective that focuses on the efficient 
utilization of raw materials and the sustainable 
use and production of energy by cascading 
material and energy flows.  We also believe that 
there are synergistic activities for producing 
energy and materials that can be implemented at 
the local level.  You can learn more about the 
research and education activities of NESGI at our 
web-site: <http://www.nesungrant.cornell.edu/> 
http://www.nesungrant.cornell.edu/.

I share your concern that we need to be cautious 
and exercise due diligence as we evolve the 
paradigm of agriculture as a supplier of energy 
and chemicals.   However, there are major global 
drivers such as energy security, climate change 
and rural economic development that are driving 
this paradigm.  Also, this paradigm and other 
proposed energy, water and climate change 
solutions are going to be disruptive and somewhat 
chaotic -- the transition from a carbohydrate 
economy to a hydrocarbon economy was not a smooth 
one as documented in Daniel Yergin’s “The Prize.” 
I believe institutions like Cornell and many of 
our other land grant institutions can play a 
major role in helping the global community 
understand and manage these disruptions.  Also, I 
am a big believer that we need to generate a 
spectrum of solutions that can be brought to the 
challenge of sustainable human development.  As 
an engineer I very much like having options and 
possibilities for addressing challenging 
problems, and research and development is 
essential to generate these options and 
possibilities.  Biofuels are not the collective 
solution to our domestic and global energy 
problem; however, they will be an important part 
of our energy future.  I strongly believe that 
Cornell's participation in sustainable biofuels 
production research and education is necessary, 
given the expectation of New York State, the 
nation and the global community that Cornell be 
one of the leaders in making this transition to a 
sustainable world.

On a personal note, I do share your sense of 
urgency and concern about getting it right on 
biofuels development.  Generating sustainable 
solutions has been an important part of my life 
journey.

Best regards,
Larry Walker
>

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