UN annouces International Conference on Biofuels

An upcoming International Conference on Biofuels, sponsored by the United Nations, will be held June in Rome (site of the FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) to discuss the impact that biofuels have from feedstock such as corn or soy. According to the FAO Director Jacques Diouf, "Policies about biofuel production need coordination at an international level that takes in consideration the fight against famine."

According to FAO estimates, the use of agricultural production for biofuel production is somewhat responsible of the raise of feedstock prices, up 21 percent compared to 2006 figures. Other factors that have affected prices are droughts and floods blamed on human-induced climate change and the high price of oil.

Related:

• Economist figures a tank of ethanol = food for a year
• Five-year moratorium on food feedstock biofuel plants suggested at the UN
• Mexico wants to limit corn ethanol with "Food comes first" law

[Source: FAO via Econoticias]