Corn should not be the source of ethanol for the future for a few key reasons.
Firstly, the increased production of corn drives the price down steeply, thus hurting the economy of poorer nations that depend heavily on the export of corn. Using corn for ethanol justifies replicating and perpetuating poverty just for the chance that it might help the environment a little bit. Also, if corn becomes the material for ethanol, a huge shift in the global economy would occur, with Brazil rising on top because of its high corn production. This increased revenue in Brazil and other nations would only serve to increase the social dichotomy between the rich and the poor.
Secondly, there is a better material for corn called switchgrass which naturally grows in many prairies in the US and across the world. "switchgrass—a native North American perennial grass (Panicum virgatum) that often grows on the borders of cropland naturally—and proving that it can deliver more than five times more energy than it takes to grow it."
If the US starts using swtichgrass for ethanol, then there will be no need to radically change the agricultural foundation of our country. However, before we can have this revolution, the government needs to be aware of this new source of power and establsih the cellulosic ethanol plants which are necessary.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=grass-makes-better-ethanol-than-corn
It honestly amazes me the fact that we have had technology to make energy from a million different compounds. Unfortunately, I live in the motor city and the biggest thing on our plate is whether we switch over to compete with foreign companies and lose jobs or "stay the course" and continue to plummit against competition. I agree that "corn" is not the way to go. Especially with the fact that it still hurts the environment.
It's a pretty inefficient way to go as well. There are definitely better ways to go.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711
There are some books out there on this subject one of which i covered in my blog
http://www.progressiveu.org/171712-sustainable-ethanol
Ethanol can be made from many sources not just corn. Just read the book
Corn should not be the source of ethanol for the future for a few key reasons.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=grass-makes-better-ethanol-than-corn
I think if you look around there are other blogs on ethanol and the pros and cons. I think it is how you look at it.
Published Author and Poet
Teacher Education Student.
grape seed
corn
waste products.
Sustainable ethanol can be made by variety of products.
Published Author and Poet
Teacher Education Student.
You said "Firstly, the increased production of corn drives the price down steeply, thus hurting the economy of poorer nations that depend heavily on the export of corn." But wouldn't the demand that we would be producing by filling up our cars actually off-set the increased production of corn?
P.S. Using corn helps the farmers in our country, is that bad?
The production of ethanol raises the cost of corn based on the theory of supply and demand. When more people want a product, there is a shortage, therefor the price of that product goes up, not down as you stated.