Biofuels and Bioenergy

Increasing population and industrialization are augmenting the demand for water, energy and food, especially in developing countries. In this context, the analysis of these three elements has gained increasing attention globally in research, business and policy spheres. This article will provide an analysis of this nexus for Brazil and the United States, using current and predicted scenario for 2050. Contemplating the relevance of renewable sources of energy to overcome these challenges and diversify the energy matrix in both countries, the study will also present the biogas potential for these countries, including best practices and case studies implemented in this area. Both countries have similar scenarios regarding the opportunities for use of this energy source are among the five countries with the largest population and territorial extent, leaders in food production, large energy consumers and are among the countries with greater availability of water in the world. It will be concluded that biogas can provide multiple economic, environmental and social benefits, such as electrical, thermal and vehicular energy, high-quality biofertilizer, reduction of odor and pathogenic vectors in the farms, decrease of ground and surface water pollution, promotion of new income for the farmers, reduction the greenhouse gases emissions, among others.