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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNestle blames biofuels for high food prices
By James Melik Reporter, Business Daily, BBC World Service
The head of the world's largest food producer believes high prices are due to the growing of crops for biofuels.
"The time of cheap food prices is over," says Nestle chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe.
He is highly critical of the rise in the production of bio-diesel, saying this puts pressure on food supplies by using land and water that would otherwise be used to grow crops for human or animal consumption.
"If no food was used for fuel, the prices would come down again - that is very clear," he says.
"We are now in a new world with a completely different level of food prices because of the direct link with fuel," he says.
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http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18858444
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)Such as food being allocated to propel an SUV down the interstate.
lumberjack_jeff
(33,224 posts)Biodiesel can be made from feedstocks unsuitable for food, on land unsuitable for farming.
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)Also jatropha.
lumberjack_jeff
(33,224 posts)... and it's not ideal.
However, it can be made from algae, but without a developed market for it, it's unlikely that anyone will invest in taking the next step to large scale algae farming.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)What's his point?
Although corn based ethanol was always a mistake. I wouldn't have a problem with gasoline no longer containing any.
Bio-diesel is more efficient and we should be continuing to move in that direction, even when it is corn based.
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)EPA pollution requirements on gasoline.
There was considerable debate about whether 1 Joule of ethanol energy cost more or less than 1 Joule of petroleum and natural gas energy to do the tillage, pesticide, fertilization, cultivation, harvesting, transportation, fermenting, distilling, and transportation to the gasoline blending point.
Palm oil probably gives a better return on energy used in its production, but it requires land in a part of the world with dense populations.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)Judging from the stations near me they seem to be for boats.
I think the ethanol v petroleum debate is over. Ethanol is a waste.
I would love to see the numbers on pollution created in ethanol production v pollution reduced by adding ethanol to gasoline.
The EPA might really want to revisit this one. It would be a great October surprise if we could deregulate this requirement (not that it would happen that fast).
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)4th law of robotics
(6,801 posts)that corn syrup is the cheapest option by far.