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 farmers. Studies examining the relationship between food prices and biofuel demand conclude …
The European Union will impose a limit on the use of crop-based biofuels over fears they are less climate-friendly than initially thought and compete with food production, draft EU legislation seen by Reuters showed. The draft rules, which will need the approval of EU governments and lawmakers, represent a major …
Nestlé, the world's largest food company, has added its weight to calls by the UN and development groups for the US and EU to change their biofuel targets because of looming food shortages and price rises. "We say no food for fuel," said Paul Bulcke, chief executive of Nestlé, at …
Key World Energy Statistics from the IEA contains timely, clearly-presented data on the supply, transformation and consumption of all major energy sources.
The European Commission is finalizing a new proposal for amendments to Europe’s Fuel Quality and Renewable Energy Directives that will address indirect land use change (ILUC) and limit support for food-based biofuels. The proposal would introduce accounting for ILUC emissions through ILUC factors in the Fuel Quality Directive, both in …
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has released a report analyzing and summarizing some of the major issues related to biofuels and biodiversity on the basis of the best available scientific information. The report highlights the complexities behind the topic, noting opportunities for biofuels to contribute to …
Two U.S. states that depend on the livestock industry are adding their voices to a string of states asking Washington to ease pressure on corn prices by suspending rules that send a large share of the crop to produce ethanol. Georgia, the center of U.S. poultry production, and New Mexico, …
New Delhi: In an ecofriendly initiative, Tihar Prisons has joined hands with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre to set up a bio-gas plant on its premises which will utilize the waste from its nine jails. This plant will help generate bio-fuel, which will assist in meeting the jail’s electricity needs. Tihar …
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Friday said an immediate ban on biofuel production can save the world from looming food crisis which can result in massive malnutrition, starvation, and riots. The worst drought in 50 years in the US and lack of rains in India and some other countries …
The needles shed by pine trees had since ages been a cause for worry for hundreds of villages in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. The needles, which contain resin canals making them inflammable, would lead to major forest fires in summers, reducing trees to ashes and charring wild animals to …
Advanced biofuels produced by microorganisms have similar properties to petroleum-based fuels, and can 'drop in' to the existing transportation infrastructure. However, producing these biofuels in yields high enough to be useful requires the engineering of the microorganism's metabolism. Such engineering is not based on just one specific feedstock or host …
Brussels/Amsterdam Drought-stricken crops and record-high grain prices have strengthened critics of the European Union biofuel industry, adding fears of a food crisis to their claims that it does not ultimately reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The renewed anxiety adds to pressure on the EU’s executive Commission to forge a deal this …
The State government is contemplating providing 50 per cent subsidy to the citizens willing to use solar lights. The chief minister has agreed to issue a government order to this effect soon, according to Ananth Hegde Ashisara, the chairperson of the Western Ghats Task Force. Speaking to media after submitting …
The Khyber Pakthunkhwa Government will install 436 bio gas plants in current fiscal year in Khyber Pakthunkhwa keeping In view its rich potential as low cost fuel for heating and power generation. Official sources in Industries Department told media on Sunday the plants would be installed in six districts of …
US senators and about 20 countries met in Washington this week to oppose Europe's decision to charge airlines for their carbon emissions by including them in its emissions trading scheme (ETS). This "coalition of the unwilling" failed to agree on a joint declaration, but a US spokesman said: "The meeting …
New Delhi Cutting back on travelling, using renewable bio-fuels, thinking twice before firing up that laptop are among activities that can not just contribute to greening the planet but could get you also hefty discounts on trendy apparel and other major branded goods. Following international trends, stores in India are …
Developing countries are bracing themselves for the worst effects of rising corn, soy and wheat prices on their poorest people. One of the worst hot-spots is Yemen which is heavily dependent on food imports, including for 90% of its wheat, and where 10m people are hungry today and some 267,000 …
This publication provides the summary and conclusions from the workshop ‘Future Biomass-based Transport Fuels’ held in conjunction with the meeting of the Executive Committee of IEA Bioenergy in Helsinki, Finland, on 10 May 2011. The purpose of the workshop was to provide the Executive Committee with perspectives on the likely …
Global emissions of CO2 increased by 3% last year, reaching an all-time high of 34 billion tonnes in 2011, according to this report released by European Commission. Top emitters contributing to this increase in CO2 are China, US, EU, India, the Russia & Japan. This report discusses the results of …
World farm production must rise 60 per cent by 2050 to meet the needs of a growing population but this has to happen in a “more sustainable way”, the U.N. food agency FAO and the OECD said on Wednesday. “It’s mostly going to be about productivity”, said Angel Gurria, head …
The eighteenth edition of the Agricultural Outlook provides projections to 2021 for the major agricultural commodities and biofuels as well as fish and seafood. Recent market trends and likely future developments are discussed in detail. This report foresees continuing high commodity prices and concerns over food price inflation. A special …
