According to the Guardian www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/03/biofuels.renewableenergy, a yet-to-be-published World Bank report delivers another slap in the face of the Bush administration by asserting that biofuels - and not sudden spikes in demand for grains - are the main cause of high food prices.
What do you think will be the consequences if this report proves to be true?
Wow - I had heard numbers ranging from 3-17% for the increase of food prices due to biofuel demand, but 75%?!? You're exactly right...let's see if this can be substantiated.
I also don't think that each type of grain/crop that can be used is equally responsible...corn is the least efficient if I remember correctly (in terms of energy put in vs. energy out as fuel) and I think it has the most direct impact on food supply. Hopefully if this is true, the decision of which crops to use for biofuels will be based more on numbers and logic, and less on lobbyists...
Wouldn't the price of fuel have more of an impact? ie it takes fuel to transport grains thus increasing the price of grain.
I was thinking the same thing. I personally think it is a mix of several factors, but def agree that biofuel is a big part of it. However the other reasons can't be ignored either.
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Wouldn't the price of fuel have more of an impact? ie it takes fuel to transport grains thus increasing the price of grain.
