Nitrogen runoff
Fertilizer and pesticides used to cultivate feedstocks, as well as contaminated effluents discharged from conversion plants, can cause increasing levels of pollution to waterways. This may constrain the growth of biofuels production in developed and developing countries with already high agricultural production levels. An example illustrates the level of nitrogen persistent in various regions of the United States and agrochemical use for different feedstocks.
Year: 2012
From collection: Biofuels Vital Graphics - Powering Green Economy
Cartographer: Riccardo Pravettoni, UNEP/GRID-Arendal