This work will address the impact of crop residues on soil health and sustainability by conducting a life-cycle analysis. The goal is to take historical data and show the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that farming practices help reduce the carbon intensity of fuel and how corn provides additional decarbonization benefits. The outcome of this study will help drive future discussions with CARB and show the environmental benefits of using corn-based ethanol in California.
Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:
- 2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
- 7.1 By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services.
- 7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- 9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all counties, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.
- 12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
