Bio Fuels Take Food off My Plate
by DAVINOS GREENO
In the mad rush to save the planet and reduce climate change, farmers across the globe are increasingly ripping up food crops and turning the land over to grow bio fuels. Maize, sugar cane, palm oil and oil seed rape can be turned into ethanol or other biofuels to use in your car instead of petrol. This may help us to fight global warming - but it is driving up food prices throughout the world.
The changing of existing crops to bio fuels from existing farmers or the creation of new opportunities for some farmers is leading to jobs and increased prosperity for some, but they are also helping to push up the price of bread in London, tortillas in Mexico City and beer in Barcelona. Food aid for the poorest people in Africa, pork in China and beef in Britain are all more expensive.
Maize used to be used for food aid or cattle feed but is now being used as fuel to save the enviroment and reduce the dependncy on oil for Western governments at a time when most oil producing countires seem to be disagreeing with the West. There could be a time when these oil producing countries start to starve the West of oil due to their actions in the international arena.
What about my pennies? This increased use of food for fuel is leading to record prices for maize, as the demand increases so does the cost. Warburtons my favorite bread in the whole world will have to pay more for wheat which will then passed onto good old me! Could the days of a 20 pence supermarket own branded loaves that I ate as a student be over? And its not just bread that is effected, my bacon butties will get more expenssive as pigs are fed mainly on grain.
The UNs World Food Organisation predicts that demand for biofuels will grow by 170% in the next three years. The global population is rising by 87 million people a year; developing countries such as China and India are switching to meat-based diets that need more land and water. As the West turns vegetarian, the East turns to meat. Its like a game of opposites.
The immediate best bet is that countries that are new to the EU such as Poland and the Ukraine will grow more food for export as they have a bigger market with more demand.
This at least will lead to my bacon butties remaining affordable and keep a smile on my face.
Davinos Greeno works for the green companies and fairtrade shopping directory that lists 100s of Organic and Ethical Companies and we also have green articles for you to read or publish.
