|
|
A key blunder was the ill-conceived response to high energy prices by promoting grain-based biofuels, the experts said. "We're all familiar with the biofuels frenzy that has distorted grain markets," said Zeigler. He and von Braun both said they support a moratorium on grain- and oilseed-based biofuels but not for sugar-cane-based fuels. "Our models analysis suggests that if a moratorium on biofuels would be issued in 2008, we could expect a price decline of maize by about 20 percent and for wheat by about 10 percent in 2009 and 2010," von Braun said. Billions of dollars have been poured into developing ethanol and biodiesel to help wean rich economies from their addiction to carbon-belching fossil fuels, the overwhelming source of man-made global warming. Experts said another policy failure has been the imposition of export bans in countries such as number two- rice exporter Vietnam, which has stopped new rice export contracts until the end of June -- despite a bumper harvest -- to ensure food security and fight inflation. Von Braun warned that high prices could force a billion people to limit their food consumption, leading to drastic malnutrition. Related Links: Discovery News blog: Earth Impacts International Rice Research Institute |
advertisement
Put Discovery News on Your Site!
|
