This briefing paper reviews evidence of the impacts of the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) on food prices, with a focus on corn and soy, and presents new analysis on the impact of the RFS on U.S. livestock farmers. Studies examining the relationship between food prices and biofuel demand conclude …
NEW DELHI Algae, one of the commonly found fresh water plants could be the simple "environment friendly' answer to the fuel shortage in the country. Biotechnology pioneer Biocon Limited chairman and managing director Kiran Mazumdar Shaw on Tuesday called for a comprehensive policy on research and production of bio fuels …
The national policy on biofuels that is expected to be announced soon has the potential to change India's fortunes either way.The government should be cautious about the land-use while allotting wasteland to companies interested in the cultivation of biofuel crops, says Sushmi Dey AT A TIME WHEN THE world is …
AWARENESS: Students taking out a rally in Madurai on Wednesday. MADURAI: Think of a life sans electricity bill. Think of a world without greenhouse gases. "It is no utopia. Come, we will tell you the measures to be adopted to pass on a wealthy and prosperous earth to the next …
Judith Lewis IT seemed, at the time, like such a good thing for the planet: In the winter of 2005, I turned in my red, gashungry Jeep Wrangler for a near-new, diesel-burning Volkswagen Beetle. Inspired by a number of pioneering friends, I would fill my little green slug bug with …
Rising food prices and shortages have joined the energy and climate crisis, economic recession, and the war in Iraq, as headline news. While consumers struggle to pay their bills and put food on the table, Monsanto, Cargill, and Archer Daniels Midland rake in billions from taxpayer-subsidized biofuels. Monopolizing markets, polluting …
The current food crisis has several causes-rising demand for food and feed, biofuels, high oil prices, climate change, stagnant agricultural productivity growth-but there is increasing evidence that the crisis is being made worse by the malfunctioning of world grain markets. Given the thinness of major markets for cereals, the restrictions …
The limited availability of fossil fuel sources, worldwide rising energy demands and anticipated climate changes attributed to an increase of greenhouse gasses are important driving forces for finding alternative energy sources. One approach to meeting the increasing energy demands and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is by large-scale substitution of …
One reason for the increase in world food prices is that of food consumption, especially in developing countries. Another is the demand for cereals and food crops to produce biofuels. Which is the more dominant factor that can explain this surge?
CRITICAL food shortages and growing demand for bio-fuels and hydro-electricity, due to high fossil fuel prices, rank among the greatest threats today to the preservation of precious wetlands worldwide as farmers and developers look for new areas for agriculture, energy crop plantations and hydro dams. However, resisting pressure to convert …
Food security has become incresingly important globally as well as at domestic front as the global foodgrain production is not keeping pace with increasing population. Besides the use for human consumption, there is horizontal and vertical diversification of foodgrains particularly towards animal and poultry feed, industrial uses and recently towards …
New reports have rung alarm bells over the net benefits of biofuels, particularly those produced in the Northern hemisphere from feedstocks that could also serve as food and are grown on agricultural land. Trade-related concerns are also becoming more prominent.
While the precise contribution of biofuels to surging food prices is difficult to know, policies promoting production of the current generation of biofuels are not achieving their stated objectives of increased energy independence or reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Reaching the congressionally mandated goal of blending 15 billion gallons of renewable …
This Agricultural Outlook offers an assessment of agricultural markets covering cereals, oilseeds, sugar, meats, milk and dairy products over the period 2008 to 2017. For the first time, it also includes an analysis of and projections for global biofuel markets for bioethanol and biodiesel, facilitating the discussion of interactions between …
This study aims to provide policymakers with an overview of biofuel certification schemes that are already in place or being developed, including: benefits and drawbacks of such schemes; implications for developing countries; and possible ramifications of certification in the context of the World Trade Organization. Certification is seen as an …
What are the impacts of the increasing spread of biofuels on access to land in producer countries, particularly for poorer rural people? Biofuels could revitalise rural agriculture and livelihoods
Ajay Modi / New Delhi July 30, 2008, 0:03 IST The introduction of 10 per cent mandatory blending of ethanol with petrol is unlikely to happen from this October, as decided by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in October 2007. The government has not notified the decision and …
