2008 Joint Annual Meeting (5-9 Oct. 2008): Water Requirements of Crops Used for Biofuel.

As a result of increased oil prices, trade deficits, and pressure on energy self-sufficiency, biofuel production has become a popular topic with industry, government, and agriculture. While biofuel production is targeted to increase rapidly, the use of water will also increase because 4 to 6 gallons of water are needed to produce each gallon of ethanol; and this does not consider the water needed to grow crops as ethanol feedstock. This water use is significant considering that it is becoming a scarce resource on its own. This talk will focus on water requirements to grow crops used for biofuel.