Food not fuel: agrofuels, food prices and hunger

The document examines the link between agrofuels and rising food prices, asserting that biofuel production diverts crops from food use and increases market volatility. It highlights the resulting impact on the world's poorest populations, including increased chronic hunger and 'land grabbing' in Africa and Asia. The briefing refutes industry claims that agrofuels are benign, noting that they compete for land and water regardless of whether the crops are edible. It concludes by recommending the scrapping of agrofuel mandates, such as the EU's 10 per cent renewable transport fuel target, and the protection of community land rights to ensure food sovereignty.

• Agrofuels are a major driver of food price increases and volatility, as they create additional demand for land and crops that are diverted from food production.
• The impact of agrofuels on food prices is significant enough that international bodies like the World Bank, OECD, and WTO suggest governments should remove policies that subsidize or mandate their production.
• High food prices, influenced by agrofuels and other factors, have pushed millions into poverty; for example, the FAO estimated 100 million more people entered chronic hunger and poverty after the 2008 spike, and the World Bank estimated 44 million were pushed into poverty between June and December 2010.
• Agrofuels contribute to 'land grabbing', where traditional community lands are acquired by outside investors; Friends of the Earth documented 5 million hectares acquired across 11 African countries, while other studies estimate 37 million hectares worldwide.
• Industry claims that non-edible crops like jatropha and camelina do not compete with food are false, as these crops still compete for land and water and are often grown on land previously used for food.
• Agrofuels strengthen the correlation between food and energy markets, making food prices more susceptible to fluctuations in oil prices.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (n.d.). Food not fuel: agrofuels, food prices and hunger. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Food-not-Fuel.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. Food not fuel: agrofuels, food prices and hunger. n.d. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Food-not-Fuel.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=Food not fuel: agrofuels, food prices and hunger |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Food-not-Fuel.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{friendsoftheearthinternationalndfood, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{Food not fuel: agrofuels, food prices and hunger}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Food-not-Fuel.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }