Dive Summary:

• A group of 11 scientists from around the world have convened to discuss the advantages or disadvantages of using 'surplus' land for the production of crops used in biofuels.
• An increase in the demand for biofuels has spurned the debate over the land on which they grow, hence the solution of growing them on 'surplus' land rather than sharing land slated for food production.
• This, however, becomes more complicated because the definition of 'surplus' land is fickle at best and certainly not universal.

From the article:

"An interdisciplinary team of 11 scientists from seven European countries and the USA have discussed the concept to utilize so called surplus land for the production of feedstock for bioenergy. They identified environmental, economic and social constraints but also options for efficient use of surplus land for bioenergy. The study provides a scientific background in support of a reassessment of land available for bioenergy feedstock production. Their findings were published in the open access journal BioRisk."