Author
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Wilhelm, Wallace |
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Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Review Article Publication Acceptance Date: 2/7/2002 Publication Date: 1/1/2006 Citation: Wilhelm, W.W. 2006. Book review of agriculture as a producer and consumer of energy. Crop Science 46:1838-1839. Interpretive Summary: Agriculture resides on both sides of the nation’s energy balance equation. Chapters in this book are based on talks addressing the potential of agriculture to influence the nation’s production and consumption of energy presented at a conference held in Arlington, VA, June 24-25, 2004. The objective of the book was to provide information on agricultural energy use and production. The book is written by knowledgeable scientists, economists, and engineers; its content is technical. Fortunately authors blended background information into their text to assist newcomers to the fields of agricultural energy use and production in understanding the issues. The book is a timely summary of current thinking, and the state of science and policy regarding energy in agriculture, as of 2004. The book contains four exceptional commissioned papers/chapters and an equally outstanding introductory chapter. A series of 15 additional chapters discuss a broad range of topics relating to agricultural energy use and production. The latter group of chapters varies more in quality and depth of coverage than the first five chapters. Topics covered in the book include current agriculture energy situation emphasizing federal farm and energy policy, agriculture’s capability to partially meet US fuel demands, processes and economics of producing motor fuels from crop biomass, energy conservation, co-firing boilers with switchgrass or animal manures, development of organisms to improve conversion of biomass to ethanol, biofuel use and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts. Crop production practices, and their potential to change agriculture’s use or production of energy, are scarcely mentioned. Concerns about removing crop residue are addressed from the erosion standpoint, but discussions of soil quality and sustainability are missing. This book should be useful to individuals involved with biomass energy or bio-based product production and those wanting greater knowledge of use and production for biomass products. The majority of the chapters are written to be understood by a wide range of readers. Citations are extensive guiding deeper exploration of specific topics. Technical Abstract: Agriculture resides on both sides of the nation’s energy balance equation. Chapters in this book are based on talks addressing the potential of agriculture to influence the nation’s production and consumption of energy presented at a conference held in Arlington, VA, June 24-25, 2004. The objective of the book was to provide information on agricultural energy use and production. The book is written by knowledgeable scientists, economists, and engineers; its content is technical. Fortunately authors blended background information into their text to assist newcomers to the fields of agricultural energy use and production in understanding the issues. The book is a timely summary of current thinking, and the state of science and policy regarding energy in agriculture, as of 2004. The book contains four exceptional commissioned papers/chapters and an equally outstanding introductory chapter. A series of 15 additional chapters discuss a broad range of topics relating to agricultural energy use and production. The latter group of chapters varies more in quality and depth of coverage than the first five chapters. Topics covered in the book include current agriculture energy situation emphasizing federal farm and energy policy, agriculture’s capability to partially meet US fuel demands, processes and economics of producing motor fuels from crop biomass, energy conservation, co-firing boilers with switchgrass or animal manures, development of organisms to improve conversion of biomass to ethanol, biofuel use and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts. Crop production practices, and their potential to change agriculture’s use or production of energy, are scarcely mentioned. Concerns about removing crop residue are addressed from the erosion standpoint, but discussions of soil quality and sustainability are missing. This book should be useful to individuals involved with biomass energy or bio-based product production and those wanting greater knowledge of use and production for biomass products. The majority of the chapters are written to be understood by a wide range of readers. Citations are extensive guiding deeper exploration of specific topics. [REAP Publication] |
