agrocombustibleweb2

This report by Friends of the Earth International criticizes the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for financing large-scale, export-oriented biofuel projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. The document argues that these projects exacerbate social inequality, threaten biodiversity, and may increase greenhouse gas emissions due to land-use changes, while failing to alleviate rural poverty.

• The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has shifted toward aggressively funding the biofuel sector, approving US$46 million for loans and technical cooperation, with nearly US$3 billion planned for private sector loan projects. These investments primarily target industrial ethanol facilities and export-oriented infrastructure rather than local livelihoods.
• Large-scale biofuel monocultures are described as a 'false solution' to climate change because the conversion of carbon-rich and biodiverse lands can lead to higher greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuels. In Brazil, the expansion of soy for biodiesel and sugarcane for ethanol is devastating the Cerrado savanna and threatening the Amazon.
• The IDB's funding model in Brazil promotes corporate concentration and export capacity to meet demand from the US and international markets. Examples include a US$200 million project for the Coimex Group at the Port of Santos and guarantees for Banco Indusval S.A. to facilitate ethanol exports to England.
• Biofuel expansion in Brazil has led to the displacement of family farming and traditional economic activities, such as dairy and meat production, particularly in Minas Gerais and Goias. Local communities report the loss of pastures due to pesticide drift and the reliance on migrant labor for the 'cruel' work of harvesting cane.
• The IDB is accused of underestimating environmental impacts in its project classifications. The Moema debt restructuring project, involving a US$120 million loan for a large sugarcane processor, was classified as Category C (insignificant impact) despite its scale and the potential for future expansion into intact ecosystems.
• In Colombia, the expansion of oil palm—supported by IDB strategic planning assistance of US$2.436 million—is linked to deforestation and severe human rights violations. Reports indicate that paramilitary forces working for palm companies have illegally seized lands from Afro-Colombian communities, resulting in 113 murders in the Cuvaradó and Jiguamiandó river areas.
• In Central America and the Caribbean, the IDB promotes an export model that threatens local food security and sovereignty. In Haiti, where national production provides about 48% of available food, biofuel investments risk increasing dependence on imported foods.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (2008). agrocombustibleweb2. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/agrocombustibleweb2.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. agrocombustibleweb2. 2008. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/agrocombustibleweb2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=agrocombustibleweb2 |date=July 2008 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/agrocombustibleweb2.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{friendsoftheearthinternational2008agrocombustibleweb2, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{agrocombustibleweb2}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2008}, month = jul, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/agrocombustibleweb2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }