In today’s paper, we have this line in an editorial on world food prices: While biofuels are only a part of the problem, News-Sentinel link here.
Really? Part of the problem? Could it be that it’s described as part of the problem because of one of the paper’s main advertisers is receiving subsidies for ethanol based fuel?
Could it be that the paper does not want to criticize the cause of its favorite political celebrity, Al Gore?
Here’s the truth:
A combination of high fuel costs, bad weather and land allocated to biofuels is constraining food supply. At the same time, producer countries are seeking to conserve food for their own people by curtailing exports. Link here.
Oxfam’s Phil Bloomer welcomed the news, saying biofuels pushed up food prices and led to “land grabs” from the poor.
There are concerns that agricultural land is being used to produce biofuels despite a shortage of food production.
Mr Bloomer said: “Setting mandatory targets for biofuels before we are aware of their full impact is madness.
Not only are biofuels pushing up food prices, but they are also linked to human rights abuses and land-grabs from the poor.”
Friends of the Earth’s food campaigner, Vicky Hird added: “UK and European targets for increasing bio fuel use by adding it to our petrol must be scrapped.” Link here.
