by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
A moratorium on grain and oilseed-based biofuels could slash food prices by up to 20% within the next two years, according to leading agricultural researchers.
Leading figures from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) suggest that suspension of production of grain and oilseed-based biofuels this year would reduce corn prices by about 20% and wheat by about 10% in 2009-10.
During a briefing on global food prices organised by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), a group of international experts backed such a moratorium.
However, they argued that other crops, such as sugarcane, could still be a valuable source of biofuels.
Joachim von Braun, director general of the IFPRI, told reporters he was not advocating a general moratorium on all biofuels because, as he said, there are biofuels and there are biofuels – there are good biofuels and bad ones.
He added that the waste-based and sugarcane-based biofuel production can be very good and the opportunities of agriculture being an energy producing sector should not be in principle discarded.
His suggestion was backed by Robert Zeigler, director general of the International Rice Research Institute.
"If we are talking about biofuels derived from maize, soybean oil, palm oil, yes I think I would support a moratorium on that," he said, “but if we are talking about biofuels generated from sugarcane or other non-consumable plant products then I would not support a moratorium there."
One can but wonder why we are toying with the idea of food-based, e.g. grain-based, biofuels in the first place. The Brazilians have shown the way for years and years – decades by now, if I am not mistaken, that ethanol can be had from other materials, including, so I understand, grass clippings. Now, if the latter is the case, I am sure that with all the grass clipping on people's lawns being wasted en entire industry could be created.
Multi-fuel engines can quite happily, like the diesel engines designed by and for military vehicles, including the Humvee, burn waste cooking oils without any loss in power and range, and this without the oil even having to be converted in any way. All that needs to happen is the bits filtered out. Why is it not being done.
How can we even contemplate to grow and use food crops for the production of fuel for vehicles while people go hungry and prices go to unaffordable levels? The powers that be apparently can do so without blinking an eyelid.
Palm oil for biofuels is an anathema in the first place as the growing of the palm for said oil is devastating large areas of rainforests, areas that we cannot permit to be lost.
Why, therefore, is nothing done to develop fuels from other sources, properly? Why are people who do their own biofuel being prosecuted at times? It all boils down, yet again, to money and the interests of the big conglomerates and the governments.
M Smith (Veshengro), June 2008
Moratorium on biofuel 'would lower food prices'
