In the context of global shortages of fossil energy—oil and natural gas in particular—governments worldwide are focusing on biofuesl as renewable energy alternatives. In parallel, almost 60 per cent of the world’s population is malnourished increasing the need for grains and other basic foods. Growing crops, including corn, sugarcane and soybean, for fuel uses water and energy resources-vital for the production of food for human consumption. There are also a number of environmental problems linked to converting crops for biofues, including water pollution from fertilizers and pesticides, global wasrming, soil erosion and air pollution.
According to an estimate, biofuels are responsible for a 75 per cent increase in world food prices over the last decade. Concern over climate change and increasing competition for cropland h.id prompted Europe and the US to encourage the use of biofuels, driving up the price of raw materials used in their production, such as wheat,
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