Integrated Food - Energy Systems (IFES)

Our life on Earth depends on a dynamic complex of linkages,
synergies and interactions among the processes, components and
sub-systems of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere.
The ecological view of sustainability focuses on the stability of
biological and physical systems. Of particular importance is the
viability of sub-systems that are crucial to the global stability of
the overall ecosystem. Protection of biodiversity is a key aspect.
Furthermore “natural” ecosystems may be interpreted to include all
aspects of the biosphere, including man-made environments like
intensive agriculture, cities and industrial estates. The emphasis is
on preserving the resilience and dynamic ability of the totality of
systems to adapt to change, rather than conservation of some “ideal”
static state of the environment. Therefore, expansion of renewable
bio-energy will require not only advances in technology, but also
tangible economic accounting of their environmental and social
benefits, compared to fossil fuels.

The development of sustainable, multi-purpose, integrated biomass
conversion systems, is based on highly efficient photosynthesis and
microbial processes, generating a number of products including energy
resources (biofuels). Such systems have the potential for reducing the
adverse impacts of agriculture and forestry, while providing food,
fibre, pharmaceuticals and supplementary biofuels, to enhance the
requirements for an acceptable standard of living. Energy production
via biomass conversion of agricultural wastes reduces the environmental
costs of food production systems, and provides economic benefit for the
farmer, as well as reducing social impacts. As such, it provides a
platform for integrating food and energy production in a sustainable
manner...

http://geoenergy.wordpress.com/2008/07/27/integrated-food%e2%80%93energy-systems-ifes/

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http://tropicalenv.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=energy03&action=display&num=1217141112

http://www.sustainabilityforum.com/forum/sustainable-energy/2034-integrated-food-energy-systems-ifes.html