5
to produce biofuels. Additionally, second-generation biofuels are projected to produce larger amounts of biofuels than current biofuel production because larger parts
of crops might be converted into biofuels in the case of second-generation biofuels
than in the case of current biofuels (Perlack et al. 2005; Sheehan et al. 2004). While
waiting for the introduction and dissemination of second generation of biofuels,
increasing energy crop production might be prospected even by introducing secondgeneration biofuels. This means that increasing crop production based on economic
incentives may not avoid greenhouse gas emissions from land or decreased land
productivity and environmental deteriorations by excess inputs of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It should also be noted that converting any part of the crops
other than edible parts into biofuels might not maintain land productivity and carbon sequestration in the soil since turning the residues of crops such as maize, wheat
and paddy into soil may contribute to maintaining that sequestration.
1.4 Biofuels and Sustainability Science
As discussed, biofuel utilization has a complex background and has broad impacts
on many fields and sectors, such as the environment, economics and society.
Therefore, a sustainable biofuel development strategy that may contribute to sustainable society is possible only if established by analysing the complex features of
biofuels in a comprehensive manner.
The concept of sustainability has been discussed since sustainable development
was discussed in the WCED (World Commission on Environment and Development)
in 1987, which is known as the Brundtland Commission led by the Prime Minister
of Norway, Brundtland (Maeda and Hibiki 2008). Through active debate in international arenas such as the UNCED (United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development) and WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development),
the atmosphere of building sustainability science, which is required to maintain a
fundamental link between science and technology without policy bias, has been
globally enhanced in academia (Komiyama and Takeuchi 2006). These active
debates for sustainability science developed a common recognition of the need for
transboundary/transdisciplinary academic systems that are different from traditional academic systems segmentalized in each academic field. A definition of sustainability science is propounded by Kates et al. based on historical debate and
common recognition. The definition of sustainability science is that sustainability
science sets out to solve global agendas of human subsistence such as global warming from the perspective point of sustainability (Maeda and Hibiki 2008).
A feature of sustainability science is solution-oriented science. Therefore, various research results and various researchers from many academic fields are joined
in a transboundary/transdisciplinary way to solve global agendas. Global warming,
for instance, is a problem shared by the entire human race that cannot be resolved
1 Introduction
to produce biofuels. Additionally, second-generation biofuels are projected to produce larger amounts of biofuels than current biofuel production because larger parts
of crops might be converted into biofuels in the case of second-generation biofuels
than in the case of current biofuels (Perlack et al. 2005; Sheehan et al. 2004). While
waiting for the introduction and dissemination of second generation of biofuels,
increasing energy crop production might be prospected even by introducing secondgeneration biofuels. This means that increasing crop production based on economic
incentives may not avoid greenhouse gas emissions from land or decreased land
productivity and environmental deteriorations by excess inputs of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It should also be noted that converting any part of the crops
other than edible parts into biofuels might not maintain land productivity and carbon sequestration in the soil since turning the residues of crops such as maize, wheat
and paddy into soil may contribute to maintaining that sequestration.
1.4 Biofuels and Sustainability Science
As discussed, biofuel utilization has a complex background and has broad impacts
on many fields and sectors, such as the environment, economics and society.
Therefore, a sustainable biofuel development strategy that may contribute to sustainable society is possible only if established by analysing the complex features of
biofuels in a comprehensive manner.
The concept of sustainability has been discussed since sustainable development
was discussed in the WCED (World Commission on Environment and Development)
in 1987, which is known as the Brundtland Commission led by the Prime Minister
of Norway, Brundtland (Maeda and Hibiki 2008). Through active debate in international arenas such as the UNCED (United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development) and WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development),
the atmosphere of building sustainability science, which is required to maintain a
fundamental link between science and technology without policy bias, has been
globally enhanced in academia (Komiyama and Takeuchi 2006). These active
debates for sustainability science developed a common recognition of the need for
transboundary/transdisciplinary academic systems that are different from traditional academic systems segmentalized in each academic field. A definition of sustainability science is propounded by Kates et al. based on historical debate and
common recognition. The definition of sustainability science is that sustainability
science sets out to solve global agendas of human subsistence such as global warming from the perspective point of sustainability (Maeda and Hibiki 2008).
A feature of sustainability science is solution-oriented science. Therefore, various research results and various researchers from many academic fields are joined
in a transboundary/transdisciplinary way to solve global agendas. Global warming,
for instance, is a problem shared by the entire human race that cannot be resolved
1 Introduction