Biofuels crime agaisnt humanity

According to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Jean Ziegler, biofuels are a crime against humanity. In a recently submitted report to the UN, he cites the use of food crops for conversion into biofuels as directly responsible for the world price increases. This comes in a year of unusually notable rises in food prices across the globe (mexican tortilla’s double in a year and maize up 70% in 6 months by Feb 2007). Accurate statistics notwithstanding, it’s quite evident in Egypt.

Experts have been for some time now warning of the negative effect of converting food agricultural products into biofuels on world food prices. Because the processes by definition require high-energy inputs to produce another substance to be used for energy, it’s staple products (starches and oils) that are most useful. In the US, federal subsidies (driven by greenhouse and energy dependence concerns) for biofuel production help drive farmers to sell over a fifth (in Jul 2006) and rising of US maize crops to refiners. Unilever, over a year ago, was warning Europe that food prices would soar as a result of shortages in palm and rapeseed oil, that did (20 to 30%) and could continue to result from setting road transport fuel targets.

Ziegler, similar to Unilver’s earlier position, urged for a 5-year moratorium on using such fuels until technology makes it possible to use agricultural waste (husks, cobs, wood shavings) or plants that grow in terrain unsuitable for food products.