Tilapia As Biofuel?

Previously, we had to fight with cars for maize, palm oil, sunflower seeds, soybeans, rapeseed and many other agricultural products that we humans consume as food, with the rise of biofuel production to replace petroleum based fuels. It seems now the fight has included that of tilapia too. In Honduras, tilapia is being used to make biodiesel to feed automobiles instead of fish & chips for humans. Check out the April 20 Aquafinca report.

The biodiesel project started in August 2005. With the fish waste, St Peter Fish produces fishmeal, fish oil for feedstock, biodiesel and glycerin for soap production. Currently, it produces about 30,000 gallons of biodiesel per month. This is slightly more than the company’s own energy needs. The plant has a capacity of 4000 gallons per day, so production could be increased. The raw material that is used for biodiesel could also be used as animal feedstock but Tilapia contains no omega 3, giving it a low value on the animal feedstock market.

So, do you all still think biodiesel is really that good an alternative?!?