Biofuel ‘not even a big factor’ on food costs, says Agriculture secretary

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer Monday played down the role biofuel production is having on food costs, saying oil prices and demand for protein-rich diets around the world are much bigger factors.

“While it’s clear that bioenergy does have some effect, it is not major; it is not even a big factor,” Schafer said Monday in a teleconference with reporters.
The comments were USDA’s first public foray into the debate that producing grain for energy is driving up food prices, causing food riots and social unrest around the world.

Commercial Appeal