Brazil has approved legislation intended to increase its already considerable output of automotive biofuels and to begin commercial production of environmentally friendlier aviation fuels. The objectives are part of the Fuel of the Future Law, which Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed on Oct. 8. In approving the legislation, he said its various provisions will “promote sustainable, low-carbon mobility and consolidate Brazil’s position as a leader in the global energy transition.” Green advocates are hopeful the measure will reduce carbon emissions by ratcheting down use of fossil fuels, but they say care must be taken to ensure that demand for the necessary agricultural feedstocks does not spur deforestation. A key area of concern is the Cerrado, the savanna where Brazil grows most of its corn and soy and some of its sugarcane. “If the biofuels law causes Cerrado landowners to boost crop productivity or turn pastures degraded... [Log in to read more]