Environmental Impact of Important Plant Species That Can Be Used to Produce Biofuels and Evaluation of Sustainable Food Security

Abstract

We are at the beginning of the period in which risk of extinction of the traditionally known and widespread energy resources is being increased. Conventional energy sources are insufficient to meet the increasing need and emerging technologies. Developed countries increase the diversity of energy, spread them and try not to be dependent to certain types of energy sources by continuing their search for an alternative source. In our country and in the world, the renewable energy sources are  natural sources such as solar, hydro, wind, geothermal, biomass and marine energy which are less harmful to human and environment when compared to the fossil energy sources. Among these the biofuels obtained from plants like maize, sorghum, sugar beets, safflower, canola, soybean, sunflower, switch grass come into prominence. The biofuels obtained from plants which are not food sources, provide sustainable energy sources with their economical and environmental benefits have more advantages compared to fossil fuels nowadays in which food safety is foreground.

As is known, the supply of energy by providing cost-effective energy to increase the competitiveness of the economy, to fight against climate change and environmental pollution, to ensure environmental sustainability and to enlarge potential of sustainable development are the current objectives. According to the decision taken in 2007, each EU member state has to meet 10% of the needs of fuel for transport by 2020 from biofuels. The impact of global warming caused by greenhouse gases today, is known as the main ecological problems of the world. Due to increased use of fossil fuels from coal and petroleum and decreased vegetation make the level of CO2 elevation rapidly the in the atmosphere. This situation makes to turn heads towards environmentally friendly energy sources. Increased demand to energy which is the basic component of social and economic development in our country and world, limited energy sources in the world and its constant decreasing are the facts understood widespread. These make countries reconsider their energy policy and use of energy efficiently.

In this study the effects of plant types, used to produce biofuels that are alternative energy sources in our country nowadays, were investigated in terms of environmental effects and food safety.