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Global ban on biofuels would lead to immediate decline in food prices mongabay.com May 16, 2008
With food prices surging more rising demand, misguided government policies, and weaker than expected harvests, IFPRI analyzed the impact of freezing or eliminating biofuels production from food crops. The group found that holding biofuels production steady at 2007 levels would result in a 6 percent decrease in corn (maize) prices by 2010 and 14 percent by 2015. Smaller price reductions would be expected for oil crops (2 percent), cassava (2 percent), wheat (2 percent), and sugar (1 percent) by 2010. A global moratorium on crop-based biofuel production would result in greater price declines in food crops: 20 percent for corn, 14 percent for cassava, 11 percent for sugar, and 8 percent for wheat by 2010.
Food prices jumped by 40 percent in 2007 and climbed higher in early 2008. Since January 2006, the average world price for rice has risen by 217 percent, wheat by 136 percent, maize by 125 percent and soybeans by 107 percent. Fertilizer prices have also boomed, with diammonium phosphate prices increasing 200 percent in 2007 and potash doubling. Higher prices have kicked off food riots in dozens of countries. Responses from governments have been mixed; some have implemented policies — including export bans — that exacerbate the crisis by encouraging food hoarding. The World Food Programme has said it needs more money to maintain its food distribution efforts. Biofuels and Grain Prices: Impacts and Policy Responses. Mark W. Rosegrant Testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs May 7, 2008 News index | RSS | Add to MyYahoo! Advertisements: Organic Apparel from Patagonia | Insect-repelling clothing |
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