US & EU – Amid efforts to expand production of biofuels, scientists are reporting new estimates that downgrade the amount of additional land available for growing fuel crops by almost 80 per cent. Their report appears in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology.

UK – UK agriculture is a high-tech industry and it needs high-tech solutions to problems such as disease, writes Chris Harris.

US – A FarmEcon LLC study has shown the US renewable fuel mandate has resulted in a dramatic increase in the cost of food production and a decrease in food affordability, writes Bruce Cochrane.

US – The USDA’s Interagency Commodity Estimates Committees prepared projections for the 2013-14 US marketing year for corn and soybeans (as well as other crops) presented at the USDA’s 2013 Agricultural Outlook Forum on 22 February, writes Darrel Good.

EU – Biofuels showed great potential as a green alternative to fossil fuels, but demands for crops needed to produce it has led to many acres of forest being converted into agricultural land. This also meant there were fewer trees to absorb CO2 emissions.

US – March Corn finished up 5 at 700 1/4, 1 1/4 off the high and 7 up from the low. May Corn closed up 4 1/4 at 696 1/4. This was 7 1/2 up from the low and 3/4 off the high.

US – March Corn finished up 4 at 698 3/4, 4 1/2 off the high and 4 3/4 up from the low. May Corn closed up 4 1/4 at 697. This was 4 3/4 up from the low and 4 off the high.

INDONESIA – State-owned plantation company PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) is set to widen its product portfolio by expanding into biofuel production during 2013.

EU – A bright future for advanced biofuels was highlighted at the European Biofuels Technology Platform annual meeting, held in Brussels on 6-7 February, bringing together over 150 stakeholders from industry, academia, research, NGOs, and other interested parties in biofuels production and use.

CANADA – POS Pilot Plant will be the first commercial organisation in Canada to offer short-path distillation (SPD) services, on a contract basis to its clients with the support of the Government of Canada.