Qatari government figure criticised for biofuel comments

A Qatari government adviser has been criticised by the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) after he made comments favouring a report that attributes the issues of high food prices and world hunger to biofuels.

The government figure appeared to support the paper, which is funded by the International Development department of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), at the MENA Grains Summit in Istanbul on 26 September.

'This so-called report from 2009 cannot withstand any level of academic scrutiny and is a self serving attempt to distract people from the real impact that energy prices are having on global commodities,' says Bliss Baker, a spokesperson for GRFA.

'Qatar, a key OPEC member and promoter of this report, derives 85% of its export earnings and over 70% of its government revenues from crude oil. Qatar's agenda is to promote crude oil and discredit alternatives like biofuels,' adds Bliss.

The GRFA recently published data showing a clear and direct link between crude oil prices and the UN FAO's Food Price Index.