Call To End Subsidies For Biofuel Production
Dr Joachim von Braun, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington, said increased biofuel demand accounted for 30% of the rise in world grain prices between 2000 and 2007.
"When food prices are high, subsidies for biofuel production should be reduced, frozen, or subjected to a moratorium on biofuels from grains and oilseeds," he said.
He said the development of second-generation biofuel technologies may partly overcome the food-fuel competition and lessen the negative effects on the poor.
Dr von Braun said developed countries should cease their support of uncompetitive biofuel production with subsidies that act as a tax on basic food and distort the competitive advantage of developing countries.
"When food prices are high, subsidies for biofuel production should be reduced, frozen, or subjected to a moratorium on biofuels from grains and oilseeds," he said.
He said the development of second-generation biofuel technologies may partly overcome the food-fuel competition and lessen the negative effects on the poor.
Dr von Braun said developed countries should cease their support of uncompetitive biofuel production with subsidies that act as a tax on basic food and distort the competitive advantage of developing countries.