Water-energy- food nexus of biofuels: analyzing policy impacts

• Grant number: 19/24479-0
• Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal researcher: Leandro Luiz Giatti
• Grantee: Lira Luz Benites Lazaro
• Supervisor abroad: Simone Abram
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Durham University (DU), England
• Associated to the scholarship: 17/17796-3 - Conflicts and power relations: the water-energy-food nexus in the production of ethanol in the State of São Paulo, BP.PD

Abstract

Biofuels production presents several challenges within the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus at the local and global scales. The worldwide interest towards energy transitions to renewable sources, and global energy prices can lead to an increasing demand for bioenergy crops, thereby intensifying the competition for arable land and water with food crops. There may be potential net welfare benefits from biofuels development to a national economy, with positive impacts including poverty reduction, higher agricultural household incomes, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. However, for sustainable resource use, biofuel production and expansion should be considered in a wider governance structure based on WEF nexus dynamics. This structure presents opportunities for new thinking and approaches on the sustainability of social-ecological systems. The period of research internship abroad will be important to enrich the theoretical and methodological basis of my ongoing postdoctoral research entitled "Conflicts and power relations: the water-energy-food nexus in the sugarcane ethanol production in the state of São Paulo". This proposal primarily focuses on energy policy analysis and governance structure assessments, analysis of government incentives, and programs for greenhouse gas emission reductions based on biofuels, and the role of biofuels in the low carbon energy transitions. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BENITES LAZARO, LIRA LUZ; GIATTI, LEANDRO LUIZ; BERMANN, CELIO; GIAROLLA, ANGELICA; OMETTO, JEAN. Policy and governance dynamics in the water-energy-food-land nexus of biofuels: Proposing a qualitative analysis model. RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS, v. 149, OCT 2021. (19/24479-0, 17/22269-2, 17/17796-3, 15/03804-9)

AMARAL, MATEUS HENRIQUE; BENITES-LAZARO, LIRA LUZ; SINISGALLI, PAULO ANTONIO DE ALMEIDA; ALVES, HUMBERTO PRATES DA FONSECA; GIATTI, LEANDRO LUIZ. Environmental injustices on green and blue infrastructure: Urban nexus in a macrometropolitan territory. JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION, v. 289, MAR 20 2021. (19/24479-0, 15/03804-9, 17/17796-3)

LIRA LUZ BENITES LAZARO; LAIS FORTI THOMAZ. A Participação de stakeholders na formulação da política brasileira de biocombustíveis (RenovaBio). Ambiente & Sociedade, v. 24, 2021-11-03. (15/03804-9, 17/17796-3, 19/24479-0)