How the World Works

By Andrew Leonard

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Biofuels

Biofuels to the rescue
In China a big grain harvest is pushing prices down and imperiling farmers' livelihoods. Time to prescribe some ethanol?
By Andrew Leonard November 12, 2008
Whatever happened to food versus fuel?
Commodity grain prices are collapsing. Perhaps biofuels were not the primary villain in the global food crisis?
By Andrew Leonard October 27, 2008
World Bank downplays biofuel bombshell report
But did Bank president Robert Zoellick just say that the Bush administration's figures on food prices were not to be believed?
By Andrew Leonard July 8, 2008
A biofuel food-price bombshell
The U.K. Guardian reports some astonishing numbers from a "confidential" World Bank study on energy crops and grain prices.
By Andrew Leonard July 4, 2008
Bad ethanol economics
Industry capacity hits a new high, even as a dozen companies file for bankruptcy.
By Andrew Leonard June 27, 2008
Bush administration biofuel confusion
How much do energy crops contribute to food price hikes? Depends how you count
By Andrew Leonard June 25, 2008
More rice than ever before
The 2008 rice harvest will be the biggest of all time. That's a good thing too, because our appetites keep growing
By Andrew Leonard May 12, 2008
Signs of the biodiesel apocalypse
A grease bandit gets nabbed outside a Burger King in Morgan Hill, Calif. Used french fry oil never smelled so sweet
By Andrew Leonard April 3, 2008
King corn takes a hit
Soybeans are back in farmer favor as fertilizer prices spike. But whatever happened to oats?
By Andrew Leonard March 31, 2008
Breadbasket inflation
Wheat prices are out of control. Corn and soybeans and rice, too. Is this good or bad news for the biotech industry, and Africa?
By Andrew Leonard February 26, 2008
The omnivore's new dilemma
Cheap corn made America fat. So what's expensive corn going to do?
By Andrew Leonard February 1, 2008
Who do you trust on ethanol?
As California hammers out its Low Carbon Fuel Standard, getting the science right on biofuels is no easy task
By Andrew Leonard January 24, 2008
All natural pond scum to the rescue
Shell and a Hawaiian start-up announce plans to make biofuel from algae, but take pains to note that genetic modification will not be involved. Why?
By Andrew Leonard December 11, 2007
Disposable diaper diesel
A source of power that will never be exhausted.
By Andrew Leonard October 31, 2007
Sub-Saharan dilemma: Food vs. fuel or radioactive waste?
Or both? In Senegal, fossil fuel shortages are forcing government leaders to explore every option.
By Andrew Leonard October 23, 2007
The Seven Commandments of Mexican ethanol
Follow these rules and you will get social justice, a healthy environment and renewable energy. It's easy!
By Andrew Leonard September 28, 2007
Brazilian ethanol: Too cheap to meter
Brazil's president, Lula, appears on Charlie Rose, and suggests rich countries should treat biofuel imports as "reparations"
By Andrew Leonard September 27, 2007
Where has all the wheat gone?
Global inventories of the grain are plunging and prices are surging. Is the biofuel boogeyman to blame?
By Andrew Leonard September 4, 2007
The future of the world is nuts
Corn? Soybeans? It's time to put away yesterday's biofuel feedstocks and bow to a new contender: The incredibly oleaginous hazelnut.
By Andrew Leonard August 14, 2007
Biggest. Corn harvest. Ever
But Monsanto says we can do much, much better. So how exactly will the company repeal the laws of corn physics?
By Andrew Leonard August 10, 2007
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A conversation about globalization.

Recent Posts

Marxist-Leninist Mao Zedong Ultraman to the rescue!
Who will dominate the ideological information technology battle of the future. The U.S.? China? Or is the game already over?
A second act for Eliot Spitzer
America: Land of the free, home of the forgiving. No matter what you do, there's an online column gig waiting in the wings
How national healthcare could have saved Detroit
The Big Three blame legacy retiree benefits for crippling their business. But it's their own darn fault.

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