O impacto da produção de bioetanol na segurança alimentar

Abstract

The development of integrated biorefineries, based on the complete utilization of plant biomass and the production of bioproducts such as biofuels, is an important strategy in replacing the global energy matrix with more sustainable processes, thus contributing to decarbonization and reducing dependence on fossil resources. However, one of the main obstacles still encountered is that the use of some plant biomasses, such as sugarcane and corn, raises the debate of competition between advances in bioproduct production and food production. According to the United Nations (UN), the world population is growing at an accelerated pace, resulting in an increasing demand for food to meet the needs of this expanding population, making food security a priority in the strategic plans of countries. In this context, this work aimed to conduct a critical analysis of the impact of bioproduct production on global food security. For this purpose, a comprehensive literature review was conducted on the discussion related to the use of food resources and agricultural land for bioproduct production. Different perspectives were explored based on real data obtained from public reports and published studies. One of the central discussions is the need to find alternatives to increase the productivity of land dedicated to food production, as well as the development of new technologies for the production of alternative foods, such as plant-based protein, which can help meet the population's demand for quality nutrients. Additionally, second-generation raw materials (2G) are explored as a strategy to increase bioproduct productivity without using food raw materials. Finally, it was identified that waste has a much greater impact on food security than biofuel production.