How will thirst for biofuels affect global hunger?

Fans of biofuels give the impression we could soon be running cars on maize, producing electricity with sugar, and getting power from palm oil.

Using plants to feed our fuel needs sounds like a great idea, and it could be a moneyspinner for some poor countries, but it might well mean people go hungry as food prices rise.
The biofuel boom is only just beginning yet already it has pushed up the cost of staples in places like Mexico where rocketing tortilla prices have sparked angry protests.

Experts are talking about a permanent change in food economics.

“We’re into a new structure of markets,” says British food aid expert Edward Clay. “It could have profound implications on poor people.”

[…] if China and India keep using up land and water resources at their current rate, they’ll have to buy grain from other countries. “When two of the world’s top three grain producers become importers, it will have a big impact on prices internationally,” Today says.

However, biofuels could also bring benefits for the world’s poor, according to Robert Zachritz, senior policy adviser for aid agency World Vision.

Although food will be more expensive and there will be less food aid to go round for at least a little while, low-income countries could cash in on high prices for biofuel crops.

CheckBioTech