DEC 05

Do biofuels compete with food for land resources? The debate rages on. University of Arizona biologist Robert Glenn, though, has a great compromise – grow the biofuels under the sea, where they won’t get in the way of food production.

Glenn focuses on Salicornia bigelovii – a plant known as a halophyte (one that loves saltwater). According to Global Seawater, a company that studies possibilities of renewable, ocean-based agriculture, an acre of Salicornia would yield 90-100 gallons of biodiesel. They are experimenting with the technology in Mexico, and other projects are underway worldwide.

Proponents such as Glenn claim that there are hundreds of thousands of underwater square miles that could be used for this sort of application. I’m sure that the ocean has viable real estate for a project like this, the question is – where? Are there suitable lands near shore, or will companies have to sail out to the middle of the Pacific? And how does one go about harvesting an underwater crop, anyway? It sounds expensive.

It’s a good idea, though. There’s a lot of potential for energy in our oceans… time to tap it.

Via Treehugger

Comments (8)

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Incredibly stupid and dangerous idea
written by Alex, December 05, 2008

Does Mr Glenn know or care that this type of environment is the nursery for countless marine organisms?

It is also very interesting to note that Mr Glenn isn't conducting his research in the US, but in Mexico - presumably because US authorities have enough degraded seagrass environments on their hands already.

This idea has the potential to crash an entire marine food chain.

I suggest that Mr Glenn and 'Global Seawater' get on their horses and ride back to Arizona and eat cactus.

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d0nt be a hata yo
written by Orc_Polisher, December 06, 2008

This idea has the potential to crash an entire marine food chain.

It also has the potential to create enormous swaths of seagrass prairie, which if properly managed and rotated could become refuges for countless marine organisms.

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written by Paul Barthle, December 06, 2008

Coastal deserts could be subdivided into shallow ponds where this plant could be grown. Shrimp and fish could be raised there as well. Plastic covers could even capture fresh water as morning dew. Baja?

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written by Tem Kuechle, December 08, 2008

Paul, yes. Baja, and similar sunny coastlines.
Great concept! Thanks!

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written by venu, December 08, 2008

i guess this is a good place to start...http://www.seawaterfoundation.org/

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written by Robert, December 10, 2008

I must agree, that the coastal ecosystems where Salicornia is found are not to be messed with- they provide countless benefits (such as prevention of erosion, hurricane buffer zones, water purifiers, and marine hatching grounds to name a few) and are extremely fragile. What do you think will happen if you plant Salicornia on a dune system, and then harvest it? Goodbye dune, goodbye beach, goodbye real estate. Also, I am having trouble understanding why they are talking about Salicornia and underwater harvesting together? Salicornia is a halophyte, yes, but it is terrestrial (well, at least not marine). I like the initiative, but I just have to wonder if it is feasible or environmentally sound.

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Biofuel Alternatives
written by Global Patriot, December 12, 2008

Seeking methods of biofuel production that are in sync with nature is a holy grail of sorts. If done properly, it can 'save the world', but if not thought out properly, can result in eco-imbalances that have the power to destroy that which we are seeking to protect.

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written by Stephen, December 12, 2008

Why use a plant that makes 100 gallons per acre, when micro algae makes thousands of gallons per acre?

There is already a comapany in texas using a saltwater micro algae for this that could likely be adapted to use on the oceans' surface, where it would be easier to harvest.

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