Ethanol (corn) production
Richard Wetjen
How it's used
Ethanol is used as a source of fuel. It is used to power cars and trucks and is sold at gas stations and other petroleum retailors.
How much is being used
The United States consumed roughly 5.4 billion gallons of ethanol in 2006 and since has been consuming on the steady rise more.
How Ethanol is made
Whats needed to make it
Corn, fermentation tanks, distillery, and gas stations to sell it.
The leading producers. America in the lead.
2012 World Fuel Ethanol Production
Continent
Millions of Gallons
North & Central America
13,768
South America
5,800
Brazil
5,577
Europe
1,139
Asia
952
China
555
Canada
449
Australia
71
Africa
42
Source: RFA, F.O. Lichts
Cost of production
The cost to make ethanol flexes greatly on wether corn prices are high or low at the time.
Amount produced annually on graph
Carbon dioxide emissions
Using ethanol in place of gasoline helps to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up 30-50%. It burns cleaner and helps by keeping the air cleaner by not putting off so many carbon emissions.
Main issue
The main issue surrounding ethanol production is that it is using corn that is also being used for food production around the world. This results in higher food prices all around the world.
Areas using ethanol
Impact on Agriculture
For most farmers Ethanol is a good deal. The corn prices are good as more and more corn is in demand, but on the other hand the farmers raising livestock it raises the prices on the feed that they are using so its not good for all farmers.