Biofuel / food production in poor countries?

Question

Are poor countries in danger if fuel crops replace the food crops, will people be faced with food reduction and hunger?

E.G.Mexico?

Answer 1

In short, the answer is yes. In the US, farmers are turning to biofuel production using the corn kernels that would normally be grown for food.

There is already evidence that the world is facing a hunger crisis, and part of it is due to the conversion of food crops to biofuel production.

Here, in Australia, CSIRO is developing a way to use the 95% of the corn plant that is currently wasted (stem, leaves, roots etc) to produce ethanol allowing farmers to access both the food market as well as the biofuel market. It is disappointint that in poorer countries, oil companies are taking advantage of farmers by paying them kickbacks to produce biofuel crops instead of foodcrops. Another problem arising that is far worse, is the destruction of rainforests, particualrly in places like Papua New Guinea, Sumatra and Borneo for the production of palm oil, which is being used to make biodiesel as well as cosmetic products. A food crisis will be the last of our worries when there is no rainforest left to work as the earth's lungs.

Answer 2

Biofuels are a classic example of how the people of the West think it perfectlty appropriate that people in the developing world should continue to suffer hunger if it makes consumer goods cheaper for us.

When we bleat about "lowering our standard of living" what we are actually saying is that workers in the developing world have no right to better THEIR living standards unless it has a negligible effect on us.

We will not pay more for fuel, source other fuel and transport options or heaven forbid sell the stinking 4 wheel drives just because little Kanye and Hussein might starve this winter if we don't.

That's where all the anger against the West comes from. I would hate people too if I KNEW that their selfish lifestyle choices meant my kids could not eat or go to school.

Answer 3

The poor countries have become welfare recipients from the not so poor countries.  Instead of us in the developed world giving them food we should be selling them seeds and equipment so they can grow their own.  Its not the job of the U.S. to keep food costs low for Mexico.  If they can't feed themselves then they are doing something wrong.  Its not our fault.

Answer 4

Not all the food crops are replaced. The poor countries have a measure to deal with bad situation. If they don't grow fuel crops, they may face a harder problem, because the fuel crops are needed in other countries. So they can earn more and more money to support their food crop growing.

Answer 5

We don't need biodiesel the solution is in the air.

Yes air powered cars.

MDI is releasing an air powered car in 2009

Google MDI air car

Save the world

Save your self

THINK ABOUT IT

THINK GREEN

Answer 6

Do you know how much we use corn? Think about it-- its in everything we eat! Different names to say corn-- imagine if we start using them for cars!!! And yes, poor countries are in danger because if they make corn they are in high demand and they might not be able to supply it all. In addition, the labor for picking them will go up without much benefits for the laborers...

Answer 7

the facts are to fill up one tank of an SUV with corn bio fuels, the same amount of corn grown would feed a village in sudan for 14 months. Bio fuels are not the answer,we already have the answer it's just that big fuel companies buy all the ideas so that they can sell petroleum for generations to come.