[Pil-pc-oceania] Agrofuels (aka biofuels) and phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons

[Robyn Williamson]

The latest issue of "Seedling", a journal published by GRAIN 
http://www.grain.org/ is solely devoted to information about the 
emerging, or should I say stampeding, industry for the production of 
agrofuels precipitated by the oil crisis and global warming.  Also 
previously known as "biofuels", the team at Seedling is now suggesting 
that biofuels have indeed become "agrofuels" as they join cattle 
ranching, monocultural food cropping, genetic modification and other 
unsustainable activities that are collectively known as modern 
agriculture.  The entire July 2007 edition of Seedling is now available 
online in English at http://www.grain.org/seedling/?type=68.  
Translations into French and Spanish will be made available in 
September and October.

Phytoremediation is basically biochemical/ecological engineering or 
plant-assisted remediation of degraded sites, a practice well-known to 
permaculturists, that captures the essence of synergistic relationships 
between plants, micro-organisms and the environment .  The University 
of Saskatchewan's Department of Soil Science has developed an excellent 
website full of information about phytoremediation of soils 
contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons including methane, ethane, 
propane, benzene, toluene, fluorene, ethylbenzene, xylene, naphthalene, 
phenanthrene, anthracene, benzopyrene and creosote.  A quick browse of 
their comprehensive database leads me to believe that many of the plant 
species permaculturists are already using for remediation such as 
legumes and sunflowers are particularly beneficial for mopping up the 
mess caused by manufacturing and transportation of modern fuels.  I 
note too that Zoysia, a no-mow grass recommended as a lawn substitute 
in permaculture systems, is also on the list:  
http://www.phytopet.usask.ca/index.html is well worth a look for anyone 
interested in this topic.

Luv & peas,
Robyn

CONTACT DETAILS:

Robyn Williamson
Education Team
PERMACULTURE SYDNEY WEST INC.
PDC, Urban Horticulturist
Local Seed Network Coordinator
NORTH WESTERN SYDNEY COMMUNITY SEED SAVERS
mobile:  0409 151 435
ph/fx:  (612) 9629 3560
http://www.seedsavers.net
http://www.communityfoods.org.au
http://www.communitygarden.org.au
http://www.bidjiwongcommunitynursery.org.au
http://www.permaculturesydneybasin.org.au
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