However, the “Action Plan on Food Price Volatility and Agriculture” agreed today by the G20 Agriculture ministers recognises the vital role of biofuels in “reduction of greenhouse gases, energy security and rural development” and said that there was not enough evidence to link biofuels to food price volatility.
“The European ethanol industry welcomes the decision by the G20 to vanquish the myth that biofuels are responsible for food price volatility. Biofuels have a vital role in providing investment in the agriculture sector - which has a very positive knock-on effect for food production”, said ePURE’s Secretary General Mr. Rob Vierhout.
The debate on the lead up to this G20 meeting has disproportionately focused on the facile argument that biofuels directly displace food. This is false: ethanol production in Europe creates valuable fuel and food products as 1/3 of grains used in ethanol production enter the food chain as valuable high-protein animal-feed.
“This is a victory of common sense and facts over the misinformation and hysteria promoted by some anti-biofuels critics. Biofuels are a convenient bogeyman in the debate on food. We welcome that the G20 was not prepared to opt for the easy option and recognised the wealth of evidence that show food prices are driven primarily by energy prices and financial speculation in food commodities markets”, said Mr. Vierhout.
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