Biofuel mandates may lead to 40% increase in N-flux in Mississippi

To reduce hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico, the nitrogen load down the Mississippi River needs to be reduced by 40% or more.  Unfortunately, this will be difficult if the US follows through with current mandates for producing biofuels from corn.  Our report from the International Council of Science concludes that a 30% to 40% increase in nitrogen flux in the Mississippi is likely to result from the increase production of corn required to fuel these biofuel mandates.  The report concludes that this is one of many reasons that these mandates should be reconsidered, and biofuel production moved away from from ethanol (towards direct combustion for heat and electricity) and away from corn (towards perenniel grasses and trees).  See the full report at http://cip.cornell.edu/biofuels/. NOAA/CHRP PI Bob Howarth was the lead author on the 300-page report.