Biofuels ‘have pushed food prices up 75%’
The rush for biofuel altern-atives to petrol has had a huge impact on global food stocks, increasing the cost of food by 75%, according to an authoritative report for the World Bank.
Details of the report come just ahead of the publication of the UK Government's own study on the impact of biofuels, expected to come to the similar conclusion that planting crops for fuel instead of food has had "significant" distorting effect on food prices.
The report by Professor Ed Gallagher, head of the Renewable Fuels Agency, is due to be published on Monday by the Department for Transport and will add to the pressure on the government to alter EU
policy targets of having 10% of
petrol made from plant-derived fuels by 2020.
Biofuels - derived from corn, rapeseed, palm oil and soya - as an alternative to petrol and diesel were seen as the environmentally friendly solution to global warming and dependence on imported oil. Now they are being identified as one of the causes of rocketing food prices and starvation.
Since April, all petrol and diesel in Britain has had to include 2.5% from biofuels but the government is now being faced with mounting evidence that the drive for biofuels will only push food prices higher. The leaked World Bank report lays bare the commonly held belief that the growing consumer wealth of developing countries like China and India is a major factor in food-price rises.
It concludes that demands from these new markets has not had a major effect on
prices while successive droughts in Australia had only a marginal impact.
The World Bank report contradicts US government claims that using plants to produce fuel contributes less than 3% to food prices and commentators have
concluded the report was delayed to avoid embarrassing President George Bush.
The issue will be discussed at the G8 meeting of world leaders in Hokkaido, Japan, this weekend, and on Monday the European Parliament's Environment Committee will consider a motion to scrap the 10% target for biofuels.
Friends of the Earth biofuels campaigner Kenneth Richter called on MEPs to ditch the controversial
biofuels targets and vote instead to double the fuel
efficiency of new cars.
He said: "This report shows that when MEPs vote on
biofuels targets next week they will have the fate of
millions in their hands.
"Finding enough land to grow 10% of Europe's transport fuel will lead to more hunger and suffering."
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Posted by: Ambassador, London on 10:53pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Bio fuels are not the solution by themselves. I think that it would be a considered approach to invest in electric and solar power vehicles. Yes we would need electricity to be the vehicle's fuel but that requirement can be ascertained from renewables and also New Nuclear power stations which should be built. This would be the new compliment in the transition process to new alternative technology in the mass manufacture of solar and electric vehicles.
That is not all, like ecotourism , Eco travel means investment in new technology to the levels of the pre industrial era.
It is a new and considered approach to solving the pollution problem from fossil fuels. When economies of scale are realised at a Industrial and conglomerate level , you would see that transition phase being a more realistic and affordable option for the consumer. In that electric and solar propulsion engined vehicles would be more affordable. At present such hybrid technology is only available to the privileged few. It is only through a concerted collective effort of investment and vision at a mass conglomerate level can affordable green and environmentally friendly vehicles be mass produced.
The outlook is thus an optimistic one but equally requires the Eco entrepreneurs to place this at the forefront so that we can all become Eco consumers as compared to fossil fuel reliant ones as we are at present.
With such levels of economies of scale then it will be affordable for the many to use alternative Eco and environmental alternatives as their preference to fossil fuel vehicular travel.
Scotland is thus building a sensible and considered energy portfolio to address this transition and it is just one of the successes of the SNP Government. Yes , this is only the beginning but there is a considered vision and portfolio of ideas in taking the nation of Scotland forward with confidence that has never been achieved before.
Thus under a SNP Government is a portfolio of prosperity and hope for the future not just for a considered few but for the nation as a whole. That in itself is something to which we can all look forward to.
Bio fuels are not the solution by themselves. I think that it would be a considered approach to invest in electric and solar power vehicles. Yes we would need electricity to be the vehicle's fuel but that requirement can be ascertained from renewables and also New Nuclear power stations which should be built. This would be the new compliment in the transition process to new alternative technology in the mass manufacture of solar and electric vehicles.
That is not all, like ecotourism , Eco travel means investment in new technology to the levels of the pre industrial era.
It is a new and considered approach to solving the pollution problem from fossil fuels. When economies of scale are realised at a Industrial and conglomerate level , you would see that transition phase being a more realistic and affordable option for the consumer. In that electric and solar propulsion engined vehicles would be more affordable. At present such hybrid technology is only available to the privileged few. It is only through a concerted collective effort of investment and vision at a mass conglomerate level can affordable green and environmentally friendly vehicles be mass produced.
The outlook is thus an optimistic one but equally requires the Eco entrepreneurs to place this at the forefront so that we can all become Eco consumers as compared to fossil fuel reliant ones as we are at present.
With such levels of economies of scale then it will be affordable for the many to use alternative Eco and environmental alternatives as their preference to fossil fuel vehicular travel.
Scotland is thus building a sensible and considered energy portfolio to address this transition and it is just one of the successes of the SNP Government. Yes , this is only the beginning but there is a considered vision and portfolio of ideas in taking the nation of Scotland forward with confidence that has never been achieved before.
Thus under a SNP Government is a portfolio of prosperity and hope for the future not just for a considered few but for the nation as a whole. That in itself is something to which we can all look forward to.
Posted by: BM, Glasgow on 11:22pm Fri 4 Jul 08
The problem with biofuels is that the companies making them want to use new, not recycled materials. Used cooking oil, chip fat, animal waste products from abattoirs etc. has just as much energy and potential to be converted to fuel. This supply of used waste products should be fully utilised before the use of freshly grown materials is even considered.
The problem with biofuels is that the companies making them want to use new, not recycled materials. Used cooking oil, chip fat, animal waste products from abattoirs etc. has just as much energy and potential to be converted to fuel. This supply of used waste products should be fully utilised before the use of freshly grown materials is even considered.
Posted by: Neil, Aberdeenshire on 3:59am Sat 5 Jul 08
Agreed, BM.
As for electric vehicles, they need batteries which means heavy metals. There is an environmental cost for these things too, and people need to consider that before rushing headlong into what seems like a solution.
Agreed, BM.
As for electric vehicles, they need batteries which means heavy metals. There is an environmental cost for these things too, and people need to consider that before rushing headlong into what seems like a solution.
Posted by: Vote for Scotlands Future, Vote for the SNP on 9:42am Sat 5 Jul 08
Biofuels are not the answer, but the are the answer to making some speculators multi-millionaires. The oil companies are sitting on patents and designs that could remove our dependence on Oil for transport fuel.
I agree with BM, Glasgow. Fuel sources derived from waste products could be developed.
The only good thing about the rise in oil prices is that the development of these now begin to make economical sense. We need Americans paying 10 times what they are now for petrol, and they we shall see funding for these alternatives coming forward.
Biofuels are not the answer, but the are the answer to making some speculators multi-millionaires. The oil companies are sitting on patents and designs that could remove our dependence on Oil for transport fuel.
I agree with BM, Glasgow. Fuel sources derived from waste products could be developed.
The only good thing about the rise in oil prices is that the development of these now begin to make economical sense. We need Americans paying 10 times what they are now for petrol, and they we shall see funding for these alternatives coming forward.
Posted by: Lobeydosser, Woodlands Road on 12:00pm Sat 5 Jul 08
NOt keen on biofuels; they should only be used as a very last resort or on R&D.
I would prefer the sugar cane, maize, etc. to fill hungry tummies than a car fuel tank.
NOt keen on biofuels; they should only be used as a very last resort or on R&D.
I would prefer the sugar cane, maize, etc. to fill hungry tummies than a car fuel tank.
Posted by: turpie, clydesdale on 10:03am Sun 6 Jul 08
When did Bush read (sorry, get) this report?
When did Bush read (sorry, get) this report?
Posted by: turpie, clydesdale on 10:03am Sun 6 Jul 08
When did Bush read (sorry, get) this report?
When did Bush read (sorry, get) this report?
Posted by: turpie, clydesdale on 10:04am Sun 6 Jul 08
Sorry, blame an excited double click.
Sorry, blame an excited double click.
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