Biofuels were developed as part of plans to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, held responsible for global warming, but since they take up land that would otherwise be used for food production, they have been increasingly blamed for soaring food prices. The World Bank said earlier this month that increased biofuel production had contributed to the rise in food prices. Most world leaders shares the same opinion. \u201cA conflict is emerging between foodstuffs and fuel with disastrous social conflicts and dubious environmental results,\u201d outgoing Italian prime minister Romano Prodi said at the International Energy Forum. Agricultural prices were not only being driven by rising demand but also by increased cultivation of biofuels, \u201ccreating strong tensions in a number of countries,\u201d he added. Biofuels were developed as part of plans to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, held responsible for global warming, but since they take up land that would otherwise be used for food production, they have been increasingly blamed for soaring food prices. Qatari energy minister, Abdullah bin Hamad al Attiyah said the world would have to choose \u201cwhat its priority is going to be — driving or eating.\u201d He rejected suggestions that high oil prices were behind the food crisis. \u201cIt\u2019s not oil that should be questioned, it\u2019s biofuels, which are at the root of the problem,\u201d al Attiyah said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Biofuels were developed as part of plans to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, held responsible for global warming, but since they take up land that would otherwise be used for food production, they have been increasingly blamed for soaring food prices. The World Bank said earlier this month that increased biofuel production had contributed … <\/p>\n