Growing Ethanol or Food?

by Karen Foto Fiddler

Uploaded 23 Oct 2009 — 31 favorites

© Karen Foto Fiddler

What is ethanol?
Compared with conventional unleaded gasoline, ethanol is a particulate-free burning fuel source that combusts cleanly with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water. Use of ethanol, produced from current methods, emits a similar net amount of carbon dioxide but less carbon monoxide than gasoline.

SOURCE:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/07/green-basics-ethanol.php

So the question is: Is using the corn crops for an alternative fuel better OR is it better to use the corn crops for food?

Thank you Richard for the SPOTLIGHT!

38 responses

  • Lynda Jeffers

    Lynda Jeffers   gave props (23 Oct 2009):

    Great 'green' shot!

  • Richard Knight

    Richard Knight   gave props (23 Oct 2009):

    This is a very creative entry, Karen.

  • Richard Knight

    Richard Knight   said (23 Oct 2009):

    I was also thinking about this from the farmer's perspective. The high demand for corn caused quite a few farmers to take their wheat out of production and to plant corn, instead. I remember when breakfast cereal made from wheat went up in price a few years ago. That was the reason why. More and more acreage was dedicated to corn. Thanks for the technical description, Karen.

  • Warren ~Mangione~

    Warren ~Mangione~   gave props (23 Oct 2009):

    Good shot. There are pluses and minuses to ethanol as with anything else. Natural gas will hopefully be the fuel of the future.

  • peggy gardner

    peggy gardner gave props (23 Oct 2009):

    I love corn, this is super !!

  • Susan Littlefield

    Susan Littlefield gave props (23 Oct 2009):

    Thank you for not only a beautiful photo, but some good info as well.

  • JOE FAILK

    JOE FAILK   gave props (23 Oct 2009):

    You can eat it or put it your car! Great shot and entry!

  • Jack Sills

    Jack Sills   gave props (23 Oct 2009):

    Excellent Photo For This Entry!!!

  • Al Gieryna

    Al Gieryna   gave props (23 Oct 2009):

    Perfect for the theme

  • Stefi Failk

    Stefi Failk gave props (23 Oct 2009):

    Perfect for the theme!

  • Latrenia Bryant

    Latrenia Bryant gave props (23 Oct 2009):

    You clever girl!!!!!!!!! :)

  • eithne mythen

    eithne mythen   gave props (24 Oct 2009):

    Excellent entry and shot, I have never seen this growing..

  • Litz Go

    Litz Go gave props (24 Oct 2009):

    Great capture, Karen! I just watched the movie "The Informant" with Matt Damon, and the thing I remembered is that they are talking about corn. One great theme entry.

  • Jüri Vissak

    Jüri Vissak gave props (24 Oct 2009):

    Cool find! Well done.

  • Bruce Miller

    Bruce Miller   gave props (24 Oct 2009):

    Excellent entry. Unfortunately, this process drives up the cost of corn making it unaffordable for the world's poor. Hopefully it will be resolved somehow.

  • Andrea Petersen

    Andrea Petersen gave props (24 Oct 2009):

    Excellent for the theme...This is another difficult challenge to photograph sunstainability and you did very well in both entry and description,

  • Donald Garrett

    Donald Garrett   gave props (24 Oct 2009):

    Great idea and great shot!

  • dp *

    dp * said (24 Oct 2009):

    Cool. I have mixed feelings toward ethanol...I think it cool for the reasons you state but on the other hand it's really bad on the engine it burns very hot and dry which drastically shortens the life of an engine. Great shot and interesting entry. dp

  • Leslie Hunziker

    Leslie Hunziker   gave props (24 Oct 2009):

    Sustainable in 2 ways! Excellent!

  • John Linton

    John Linton gave props (24 Oct 2009):

    Excellent entry.

  • elfriede fulda

    elfriede fulda   gave props (24 Oct 2009):

    Excellent entry,,,,

  • Kaan Uğurlu

    Kaan Uğurlu said (25 Oct 2009):

    Well seen and captured..

  • Rob Roy

    Rob Roy gave props (25 Oct 2009):

    Solid entry, Karen!! My vote!!

  • Michael Ball

    Michael Ball   gave props (25 Oct 2009):

    Excellent entry!!! Fantastic shot!!

  • Nelson Campbell

    Nelson Campbell   gave props (25 Oct 2009):

    Great entry...both?

  • david ong

    david ong   gave props (25 Oct 2009):

    nice one Karen!! Rad!

  • Regenia Brabham

    Regenia Brabham   gave props (25 Oct 2009):

    Great shot and entry Karen!

  • Dawn Duffield

    Dawn Duffield (Deleted) gave props (25 Oct 2009):

    Extremely clever entry!!!!!

  • Karen K Smith

    Karen K Smith   gave props (25 Oct 2009):

    Great image and entry!

  • Dhanny Palma

    Dhanny Palma   gave props (26 Oct 2009):

    Great Shot!!! Vibrant color

  • Hector rtiz

    Hector rtiz   gave props (26 Oct 2009):

    YEAP IS GREEEAAAAT

  • Lanis Rossi

    Lanis Rossi gave props (26 Oct 2009):

    Great Entry!

  • Alexis Gerard

    Alexis Gerard gave props (26 Oct 2009):

    Great challenge!

  • Christopher J Chalk

    Christopher J Chalk   gave props (27 Oct 2009):

    I hear on the news everyday about foods we have been eating for years are now considered cancerous so who really knows as a latperson what is good, what is not good! Great entry and comments Karen!

  • Christopher J Chalk

    Christopher J Chalk   gave props (27 Oct 2009):

    *Layperson

  • Deborah Downes

    Deborah Downes   gave props (27 Oct 2009):

    Well captured and well said, Karen. Great entry.

  • Zerina Phillip

    Zerina Phillip gave props (28 Oct 2009):

    Very green. Fantastic photo.

  • Gloria Childers

    Gloria Childers   gave props (1 Nov 2009):

    I vote we eat this instead. :-)

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