Biofuels: network analysis of the literature reveals key environmental and economic unknowns.

ABSTRACT: Despite rapid growth in biofuel production worldwide, it is uncertain whether decision-makers possess sufficient information to fully evaluate the impacts of the industry and avoid unintended consequences. Doing so requires rigorous peer-reviewed data and analyses across the entire range of direct and indirect effects. To assess the coverage of scientific research, we analyzed over 1600 peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2009 that addressed 23 biofuels-related topics within four thematic areas: environment and human well-being, economics, technology, and geography. Greenhouse gases, fuel production, and feedstock production were well-represented in the literature, while trade, biodiversity, and human health were not. Gaps were especially striking across topics in the Souther

SUBMITTER: Ridley CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3280622 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature