This briefing paper reviews evidence of the impacts of the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) on food prices, with a focus on corn and soy, and presents new analysis on the impact of the RFS on U.S. livestock
The European Union faced calls to abandon plans to increase bio fuel use from its,, own scientific advisers yesterday. The scientific committee of the European Environment Agency said a target of having 10 per cent of transport fuel derived from plants by 2020 could deprive millions of people of food and damage the environment. Andrew Bounds, Brussels Full story: http://blogs.ft .com/brusselsblog
Advice for those trying to solve the global food crisis: do not start from here. As governments across the developing world impose export bans on staple foods, further worsening the shortages on inter
The German government has been forced into an embarrassing climbdown over its plans to lead a worldwide biofuels revolution on the roads after the discovery that too many cars would be unable to run on the proposed ethanol-petrol mix. The environment minister, Sigmar Gabriel, had planned to introduce the new fuel to motorists next year. It is known as E-10, and 90% of it would consist of petrol and the rest of ethanol.
Grains gone wild What's behind the world food crisis? These days you hear a lot about the world financial crisis. But there's another world crisis under way - and it's hurting a lot more people. I'm talking about the food crisis. Over the past few years the prices of wheat, corn, rice and other basic foodstuffs have doubled or tripled, with much of the increase taking place just in the last few months. High food prices dismay even relatively well-off Americans, but they're truly devastating in poor countries, where food often accounts for more than half a family's spending.
From his Cessna a mile above the southern Amazon, John Carter looks down on the destruction of the world's greatest ecological jewel. He watches men converting rain forest into cattle pastures and soybean fields with bulldozers and chains. He sees fires wiping out such gigantic swaths of jungle that scientists now debate the "savannization" of the Amazon.
Food Prices To Rise For Years, Biofuel Firms Say UK: April 4, 2008 LONDON - Staple food prices will rise for some years, but should eventually fall to historical averages as harvests increase, biofuel company executives said on Thursday. Soaring demand for better quality food from rapidly industrialising emerging markets such as China, supply shortages, increased demand for biofuels, and a surging appetite for food commodities by investment funds, have combined to push prices of basic foods higher and higher in recent months.
While the advocates of biofuel as a viable option or supplement to conventional fuels feel that India must shift over to cheaper alternatives that are not in the grip of oil cartels, its opponents vehemently oppose any such move This year's Budget is notable for waiver of excise duty on biofuel diesel. Advocates of biofuel as a viable option or supplement to conventional fuels such as petrol, diesel and fossil fuels are happy with the development as they feel it is time for India, if not the world, to shift over to cheaper alternatives that are not in the grip of oil and kindred cartels.
German cars not ready for new biofuel - sources GERMANY: April 3, 2008 BERLIN - More than 2 million cars in Germany cannot run on a new biofuel the government wants to introduce, well over a limit the administration has set as a pre-condition for its use, industry sources said on Wednesday. Around 330,000 cars made by German manufacturers, plus more than 2 million imported cars, are unable to run on the new fuel, industry sources familiar with the data said. The environment ministry declined to comment on the figures.
Thailand on Tuesday approved a 399.6-billion-baht (12.7-billion-dollar) loan scheme for farmers, in the government's latest effort to shore up the economy, the finance minister said. The project's centrepiece is a 325-billion-baht loan scheme for farmers to start growing crops like palm oil and cassava, which would be used to make biofuels, Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee told reporters. Despite the ambitious scope of the biofuels project, Surapong gave few details on how it would work.
Responding enthusiastically to the world agrofuel frenzy, the Indian government has promised a flurry of initiatives to encourage the large-scale planting of agrofuel crops, particularly jatropha. Without waiting for the government support to be spelt out, corporations are already moving in, taking over resources that have traditionally been used by rural communities. As a result, local people will find it harder to satisfy their food and fuel needs. Once again, it is the rural poor who will bear the cost of the agrofuel boom, while reaping few of the benefits. April 2008
