Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Energy
Why in News?
Recently, the OECD‑FAO Agricultural Outlook 2026‑2035 projects that food‑based biofuels will continue to dominate global biofuel production through 2035.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Agricultural Outlook 2026–2035
- It is a joint report that gives a 10‑year forecast of global, regional, and national trends in agriculture, biofuels, and seafood markets.
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First‑generation biofuels
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- They are produced from edible food crops using established fermentation and transesterification processes.
- Ethanol (from maize, sugarcane, rice, and cereals) and biodiesel (from soybean, rapeseed, and palm oil).
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Second‑generation biofuels
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- They are manufactured from non-edible biomass or lignocellulosic biomass.
- For example, agricultural residues (straw and husks) and forestry waste, requiring more complex thermochemical and biochemical conversion methods.
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Lignocellulosic biomass – The structural plant material, mainly made of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin (Earth’s most abundant renewable resource).
Key Findings of OECD‑FAO Report
- First-generation biofuels will continue to dominate global biofuel markets over the next decade.
- Second-generation biofuel will not see a substantial increase in production share.
- Global ethanol projection – By 2035, production expected to reach 162.5 billion litres
- Feedstock share – Maize (61%), sugarcane (22%), molasses (5%), and wheat (2%).
- Global biodiesel projection – Output to rise to 99 billion litres; vegetable oils (69%), used cooking oils and tallow (23%).
- Consumption growth – Biofuel demand is to grow at 1.4% annually through 2035, slower than the past decade.
- Global demand – Emerging economies (India, Brazil, and Indonesia) to account for 80% of demand growth.
Reference
OECD-FAO report
