Article by Peter Verhoeff

Across the world, food shortages have taken on crisis proportions. In the U.S. and Europe this has taken the relatively mild form of sharply increased prices, but in other parts of the world riots are breaking out and governments are nearly being toppled, because people are starving.

The causes for these sudden food shortages are many. Climate changes have reduced the availability of food. For example, Australia, previously a major grain exporter, has suffered a drought condition for several years. Other food-producing countries have suffered from crop-devastating floods and other adverse weather conditions.

Natural disasters, such as the recent earthquakes in China and hurricane damage in Myanmar, have made millions of people dependent on food aid.

Increased prosperity in China and India has raised the worldwide demand for dwindling supplies of oil from the Middle East, pushing up the price of oil and consequently raising food prices, due to increased transportation costs.

Increased prosperity in Asia also has increased the demand for meat and other previously considered “luxury” food items. Livestock animals are big consumers of corn, thus making less of it available for human consumption. According to a May 19, 2008, article in U.S. News and World Report, it takes about seven pounds of corn to produce one pound of beef. The same article states that since 1980 Brazilian meat consumption has more than doubled to 197 pounds per person per year and China’s demand for meat has quadrupled to 109 pounds. Americans have an even stronger appetite for meat: 273 pounds per year. Clearly, a reduction in meat consumption would help alleviate food scarcity.

The production of biofuels has also had an impact on food prices and availability. Because of soaring oil prices and reduced availability, the U.S. has implemented a program to produce ethanol from corn. Gasoline at the pumps is now increasingly supplemented with ethanol to relieve the soaring cost and reduced availability of oil. The Federal government heavily subsidizes this program and many American farms, particularly in Iowa, are now growing corn for ethanol.

According to an April 2008 article in Time Magazine, soybean production in the U.S. has decreased as a result, leading to an increase in soybean production in Brazil, which in turn has led to farmland expansion at the expense of further encroachment on the dwindling Amazon rainforest. Brazil itself produces biofuels from sugar cane, which is claimed to be a far more efficient biofuel source than corn. In Europe and Asia, rapeseed and palm oil are used for biofuels, which also encroaches on existing forests, the clearing of which increases the emission of greenhouse gases.

More biofriendly alternative sources of biofuels, that have less of an impact on the food chain and the environment, are being considered, such as grass, timber waste and algae. It is too soon to tell whether these alternatives will be commercially viable and capable of large-scale implementation.

There do not appear to be simple answers to alleviating food and energy shortages across the planet. With over six billion human mouths to feed, there is a need to review food and energy policies worldwide and to work out effective steps to remedy hunger and energy scarcity.

Many brilliant minds are at work to improve conditions in the direction of adequate food and energy supplies for all, but these improvements will take time to develop and bring to fruition. Meanwhile, it is important to use food and energy more effectively. Individuals in developed countries can contribute by reducing meat consumption and wasting less food and energy.

Energy conservation is being taken seriously by Biofriendly Corporation, whose Green Plus® liquid fuel catalyst provides a cleaner, more linear burn of fuel in internal combustion engines, thus reducing harmful emissions and increasing torque and fuel economy.

For more information on Green Plus visit the Biofriendly website at http://www.biofriendly.com.

About the Author

Author, Peter Verhoeff, contributes articles on environmental issues for Biofriendly Corporation. More information on these and other topics can be found on the Biofriendly site.

Question by JR L: What is the name of the plant fully abondant in Haiti capable of being used for biofuel?

For long Haiti has been known for its ecological degradation due to the oversuse of the trees to produce charcoal a commodity commonly used for cooking. Scientists have recently discovered a plant commonly used by vodou practitioners for treating ailment and conjure evil spirits. What is the name of this plant?

Best answer:

Answer by Brigitte H
Jatropha curcas, a native Haitian shrub, is by now grown in several countries to produce biofuel.

“Haiti’s Hopes for Biofuels Rest on Jatropha Plant”:

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=50480

“Voodoo shrub is alternative fuel”:

http://current.com/items/89350483_voodoo_shrub_is_alternative_fuel

Give your answer to this question below!

Pimental. Focus on the ethics of corn use as biofuel and consequences of US consumption.1700 gallons of water per gallon ethanol…IPS,Intl Forum on globalisation sept 2007 DC.

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