James Gordon has recently been appointed a new head of Bio Chemistry Research La
ID: 392217 • Letter: J
Question
James Gordon has recently been appointed a new head of Bio Chemistry Research Lab at Applegate State University. Throughout its history the lab has been primarily involved in designing genetically modified (GM) plants. However, John Miller, one of the lab’s leading research associates, has informed James Gordon that the capabilities of the lab may also be used for developing a process of extracting bio diesel out of certain plants and suggested that this could be a better opportunity than the GM plants. The bio diesel is an alternative fuel that may be burned in regular diesel engines like normal mineral diesel, and its use does not pollute the atmosphere nor adds to the causes of global warming. If you were to choose between (1) continuing to design GM plants and (2) switching to the bio diesel business, which option would you prefer? Why? Is the lab likely to obtain/keep a sustainable competitive advantage if it follows your recommendation? Explain your answer.
James Gordon has recently been appointed a new head of Bio Chemistry Research Lab at Applegate State University. Throughout its history the lab has been primarily involved in designing genetically modified (GM) plants. However, John Miller, one of the lab’s leading research associates, has informed James Gordon that the capabilities of the lab may also be used for developing a process of extracting bio diesel out of certain plants and suggested that this could be a better opportunity than the GM plants. The bio diesel is an alternative fuel that may be burned in regular diesel engines like normal mineral diesel, and its use does not pollute the atmosphere nor adds to the causes of global warming. If you were to choose between (1) continuing to design GM plants and (2) switching to the bio diesel business, which option would you prefer? Why? Is the lab likely to obtain/keep a sustainable competitive advantage if it follows your recommendation? Explain your answer.
Explanation / Answer
I prefer the option of switching to biodiesel business. Biodiesel has met the Clean Air Act amendments since 1990 and approved as one of the clean alternative fuel to diesel. A study conducted by the U.S energy department and U.S agriculture department have confirmed that biodiesel reduces the carbon dioxide emissions by 78.5%. Studies reveal that the energy balance of biodiesel has a higher ratio than diesel lowering the impact on the environment. Biodiesel releases 3.2 units of energy compared to 0.83 units of energy by diesel for every unit of fossil fuel produced. Studies also reveal that biodiesel is 15 times less toxic to common fish and other aquatic species. The greatest advantage associated with biodiesel is its positive environmental effect and government policies encouraging its use. Biodiesel can be blended with gasoline and diesel ensuring the longevity of the engines and at the same time reducing the greenhouse gas emissions. Biodiesel manufacturing can contribute to the local community in becoming self-sufficient. The farmers can benefit from growing the feedstock and distributing the soybean to the research lab. I strongly believe that the lab must shift from GM plants production to Soybean production to benefit everyone.
Biodiesel manufacture is from different fats, oils and mainly from waste products. The waste cooking oil is used as a feedstock for manufacturing biodiesel. This is a great achievement for generating wealth out of waste. Other benefits of using biodiesel include ease of use, performance, power, energy balance, safety, recycling, biodegradable and economic development.
Biodiesel is a renewable energy causing less pollution than diesel. There is no sulfur in biodiesel making biodiesel safe to engine increasing its lifetime with an extended life of catalytic converters. The limitation is that manufacturing biodiesel is expensive but the soybean production on a mass scale makes it economical to manufacture biodiesel. This is a great opportunity for the research lab to switch from GM plants to soybean production on a mass scale to manufacture biodiesel on a large scale. The research lab can use its years of experience producing GM plants to produce soybean plants on a mass scale. Initially, biodiesel must be manufactured on a pilot basis and blended with diesel and other oils. Based on the response, I would suggest the production of soybean on a mass scale in the lab. This could help the lab to obtain a competitive advantage.
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