Report: EU biofuels target means 100 million more starve
The 2008 decision, which requires 10% of biofuels in the EU to be used as liquid transport fuel by 2020, has proved to be an extremely bad judgement, according to a report by Action Aid.
People living in developing countries in Africa, Central America and Asia are now to endure more suffering because of the EU 10% target, the report finds. 100 million more people will starve as EU firms have claimed millions of acres of land to grow crops for biofuel production.
The report said: ‘To meet the EU 10% target, the total land area directly required to grown industrial biofuels in developing countries could reach 17.5 million hectares, displacing food and animal feed crops onto land in new areas, often in developing countries.’
In 2008, a 20-30% increase in food prices was blamed on the production of biofuels as 125 million tonnes of grain and cereals were converted into biofuels. Now, if the biofuels target set by the government is met, the price of food could rise by a further 76% by the year 2020.
ActionAid report author Tim Rice said: ‘Biofuels are driving a global human tragedy. Local food prices have already risen massively. As biofuel production gains pace, this can only accelerate.’
People living in developing countries in Africa, Central America and Asia are now to endure more suffering because of the EU 10% target, the report finds. 100 million more people will starve as EU firms have claimed millions of acres of land to grow crops for biofuel production.
The report said: ‘To meet the EU 10% target, the total land area directly required to grown industrial biofuels in developing countries could reach 17.5 million hectares, displacing food and animal feed crops onto land in new areas, often in developing countries.’
In 2008, a 20-30% increase in food prices was blamed on the production of biofuels as 125 million tonnes of grain and cereals were converted into biofuels. Now, if the biofuels target set by the government is met, the price of food could rise by a further 76% by the year 2020.
ActionAid report author Tim Rice said: ‘Biofuels are driving a global human tragedy. Local food prices have already risen massively. As biofuel production gains pace, this can only accelerate.’
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