Germany Defends Biofuels, Hedges Bets on Energy Goals

The German government rejected claims Tuesday that fuel crops were causing a worldwide spike in food prices. Berlin plans to announce a plan for easing the world food crisis by July, agriculture minister Seehofer said.

Germany cannot reach its climate change goals unless it dedicates land to growing biofuels, Germany’s agriculture minister Horst Seehofer said after talks in Berlin on Tuesday, May 6. Seehofer defended biofuels against growing criticism that they are responsible for food prices increasing globally, which has caused rioting and hunger in developing countries.
“There would also be hunger without biofuel,” Seehofer said, who promised that the government would announce this summer what it will do to help ease the global food crisis.

In many countries, the hunger crisis is caused by population increases and the increasing demand for food in developing and emerging countries, said Seehofer.

Deutsche Welle