Thus far life-cycle analysis (LCA) of biofuels has acknowledged but generally excluded their indirect effects on land-use change (ILUC), because of evident difficulties in their estimation and attribution.
However, consequences for global land-use change of expanding corn-based bioethanol production in the US were highlighted in February 2008 by Searchinger et al. (this paper will subsequently be referenced by its initial author) and this paper has prompted much debate in subsequent publications and open correspondence. The initial Searchinger paper presented estimates of ILUC and consequent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to expanding corn-based bioethanol production in the US, and concluded that pay-back periods (until net savings in GHG emissions would be achieved) were so long as to render this form of biofuel counter-productive in contributing to GHG savings.
An accompanying paper (Fargione et al. 2008) broadly corroborated Searchinger’s conclusions. The extensive subsequent debate has included rejoinders by Searchinger et al. to the critiques of Wang & Hodson.
This review attempts to summarise and evaluate the debate, as it relates to the Gallagher review of indirect effects of the biofuels initiative in Europe. The review is not intended to be comprehensive or to give firm conclusions, but rather to provide a summary of the contentious issues for the wider Gallagher Review.

By: R. Sylvester-Bradley (ADAS UK Ltd)

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