Examining The Benefits And Drawbacks Of Ethanol

Iowa produces more corn than any other state. Some of that corn goes into the food supply. Some of it goes to livestock. Nearly 50 percent of it though goes to produce ethanol, which the government mandates to be blended with gasoline, in accordance to the Renewable Fuel Standard.

GOP candidate Ted Cruz says the RFS, which was first enacted 11 years ago, should be scrapped, a position that caused Iowa Governor Terry Branstad to call for his defeat in Monday’s caucus.

Reporting from Iowa, Here & Now‘s Robin Young sits down with David Swenson, associate scientist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State, to discuss the pros and cons of ethanol.

Guest

• David Swenson, associate scientist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State. He tweets @daswenson.

Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit NPR.