Monday, November 5, 2007 - 1:00 PM
109-1
Bioenergy: Implication for Soil and Water Conservation.
Crop residue is the most important soil and water conservation tool for much of this country’s farmland. This same crop residue will be required to meet the needs of our rapidly emerging bioenergy industry, a fuel production industry identified as having national security implications. These residues will soon have a market value. Concurrently, a market value associated with their use for conserving soil and water resources does not exist. As a result, two critical questions must be raised: 1) Do we have the science to identify how much residue can be removed without damaging soil and water resources; and 2) Can we balance the energy needs, financial interests, and soil and water preservation required for sustainability in the bioenergy industry? The emerging bioenergy industry that will attempt to meet production expectations of this country and financial expectations of investors involves a complex set of relationships between multiple components with outcomes impacting soil and water resources. Because of these interwoven relationships, what may seem simple, straight forward developments associated with this industry may have substantial unintended impacts with long term unfavorable consequences. A critical concern is that decisions and resulting developments will most likely be based on market signals, with these signals giving little, or only marginal, consideration for sustaining soil or water resources.
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