Article: Global poverty and biofuel production: food vs. fuel Journal: International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy (IJETP) 2012 Vol.8 No.3/4/5/6 pp.209 - 223 Abstract: From early 2008, the issue of rising global food prices moved to the forefront of the international political agenda. As a result of higher food prices, tens of millions of people were pushed into hunger and poverty around the world. Civil unrest flared up in North Africa, Vietnam and Haiti as countries introduced export restrictions on food subsidies and instituted price controls. Food price inflation has been sparking protests in North Africa that toppled longstanding presidents in Tunisia and Egypt. In the food markets, unfavourable weather conditions, rising fuel costs, rising biofuels production, and trade restrictions have added to upward price pressures. Higher food and fuel prices have serious macroeconomic effects throughout the global economy, including adverse effects on growth and inflation, and large swings in the terms of trade - with important balance of payments repercussions. In this paper, we analyse the immediate causes of food price inflation; in particular the role of biofuel, and discuss actions policy makers may need to take to ensure global food security. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Global poverty and biofuel production: food vs. fuel

Authors: Tahereh Alavi Hojjat

Addresses: Division of Business, DeSales University, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley, Pennsylvania, 18034, USA

Abstract: From early 2008, the issue of rising global food prices moved to the forefront of the international political agenda. As a result of higher food prices, tens of millions of people were pushed into hunger and poverty around the world. Civil unrest flared up in North Africa, Vietnam and Haiti as countries introduced export restrictions on food subsidies and instituted price controls. Food price inflation has been sparking protests in North Africa that toppled longstanding presidents in Tunisia and Egypt. In the food markets, unfavourable weather conditions, rising fuel costs, rising biofuels production, and trade restrictions have added to upward price pressures. Higher food and fuel prices have serious macroeconomic effects throughout the global economy, including adverse effects on growth and inflation, and large swings in the terms of trade - with important balance of payments repercussions. In this paper, we analyse the immediate causes of food price inflation; in particular the role of biofuel, and discuss actions policy makers may need to take to ensure global food security.

Keywords: food prices; food security; global inflation; biofuels; ethanol; global poverty; biofuel production; hunger; fuels; civil unrest; North Africa; Vietnam; Haiti; export restrictions; food subsidies; price controls; Tunisia; Egypt; food markets; unfavourable weather; weather conditions; fuel costs; trade restrictions; upward price pressures; macroeconomic effects; global economy; economic growth; balance of payments; energy technology; energy policy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETP.2012.052109

International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy, 2012 Vol.8 No.3/4/5/6, pp.209 - 223

Received: 13 Sep 2011
Accepted: 18 Mar 2012
Published online: 27 Aug 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article

Title: Global poverty and biofuel production: food vs. fuel

Keep up-to-date