More Biodiesel - More Expensive Food
07.05.08
So-called organic fuels have caused an increase of food prices by 75%, according to an unpublished report of the World Bank (WB).The publication pointed out that the report was completed in April, but was not published to avoid to put in a delicate situation the U.S. government, which claimed that biofuels led to an increase of food prices with only 3%.
Acquired from cereals, oil and sugar plants, biofuels can help to reduce dependence against fossil fuels and carbon dioxide emissions. The report author considered, contrary to the declarations of U.S. President George W. Bush, as demand increasing from India and China did not advance the cause of food costs.
Also, no droughts from Australia did have not a significant impact, according to World Bank(WB). Europe’s incentive and the United States for use on large-scale of biofuels claimed most food prices advance.
European Union (EU) discussed about to use biofuels for 10% of the total fuel from the transport sector until 2020, as part of the renewable energy increasing. Next week G8 leaders will discuss about biofuels and increasing food price.
The NYTimes recently ran a story calling the drastic scaling back of the European Union’s goal to increase its use of biofuels a “major about face on a central environmental and energy issue.”
The article cited new evidence from the British government that blames biofuels for its contribution to deforestation and higher food prices.
Meanwhile in the US, 1/4 of our corn crop still goes to biofuels and its byproducts of higher greenhouse gas emissions and an increased level of poverty in ever developing countries.
Why are these studies being ignored? Why is it that our energy policies fail to recognize Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as the viable, cost-effective, and fuel-efficient alternative that it is?
While biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel) cause more harm than good to the environment, the Environmental Protection Agency considers Natural Gas Vehicles to be the cleanest vehicles commercially available today.