Myths and Subsidies

Despite mounting evidence, some still insist in blaming biofuels for food insecurity, especially in poor countries. This view is based on the wrong assumption that food crops would be replaced with biofuels production, which would aggravate hunger in the least developed regions. Evidence provided by FAO, however, shows that only 1% of the cultivated area is destined to the production of biofuels. Even if an extraordinary increase in the area destined to biofuel crops were considered, the scale of production would never be enough to threaten global food security.

The Brazilian example actually vindicates how biofuels may contribute to strengthening food security. In Brazil, biofuels production increases agricultural productivity as a whole, through a competitive production chain and improvements in infrastructure (ports, highways, railway etc). Proper technology in place, land use carefully planned, technical assistance provided and agroecological zoning plan effective, the results are a sustainable production of biofuels and a boost to food production. Besides, the alleged expansion of the area destined to the crops needed for biofuels may well take place in barren and depleted areas, resulting in agriculture and livestock productivity gains.

The Brazilian example is far from an exception. More than a hundred countries have potential for growing crops with the purpose of obtaining bioenergy. The production and use of biofuels could be used to enhance progress in the least developed countries. Building a modern and effective agricultural sector allows for the production of food and bioenergy in a sustainable way. The Nobel Prize Winner in Economic Science, Amartya Sen, claims that hunger and malnutrition have less to do with food scarcity than with access to food, due to lacking purchasing power in poor societies.

Brazil is proud of its biofuels program and is willing to share its achievements with other developing countries. As President Lula has once pointed out, biofuels are among the most promising driving forces of sustainable development. We expect to make it clear to biofuel detractors that bioenergy projects have the very vocation of integrating, auspiciously, energy and food production. In order to be able to do so, barriers to trade and subsidies enforced by developed countries should be curbed, since they hinder the development of the agricultural sector in the least developed countries.