Oxfam says so-called green policies in developed countries are contributing to the world's soaring food prices, which hit the poor hardest. The group also says bio fuels will do nothing to combat climate change. (more)
Developed countries are increasingly investing on bio fuels as an alternative to traditional energy sources and this is driving up demand for food. Further, if the prices for fuel crops exceed that of food prices, the food in question will obviously be sold to make bio fuels.
Brazil especially has been an outspoken advocate for the use of bio fuels and claims that it does not affect food prices or supply in an adverse way, Oxfam begs to differ though, claiming that up to 30 million of the worlds people have been affected already.
It seems that in its eagerness to get on with trend of enviro-friendliness and clean energy, the world is losing touch with the basics. We are acting like kids with a new toy it seems. Bio fuels are not sustainable; to meet the current energy demand with bio fuels alone would mean the use of almost all the food crop in production right now.
We need some better ideas please?
2 comments:
The OPEC should also be responsible for this. When they're doing nothing to stop the rising prices of oil we can't expect Brazil and US to stop going for bio fuels could we?
The only solution seems to be going for newer technology in the field of agriculture like genetically modified foods. sure it won't stop the production of bio fuels. But at least we can increase the production of food.
yeah well maybe the OPEC should increase production but with demand friom China and India driving up the way it is, its not gonna help much. and will bring about the age of No Oil much faster.
increasing the production of food sounds good. but the existence of biofuels is still going to be a competitor for food. and that will only opress the already poor population in this world.
i think we need to stay away from food crops for fuel, period. im sure we can find other sources of sustainable energy right?
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