UN-FAO Responds to “Crime Against Humanity” Label on Biofuels

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) has responded to the position of Jean Ziegler (UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food), on his grave concerns on the possible negative impacts of biofuels production from food-feedstocks (such as corn and wheat). In his report to the UN General Assembly, Ziegler warns of disastrous consequences related to the “ill conceived rush” to convert food into biofuels. He called for a 5-year moratorium on all “food-to-fuel” initiatives, during which steps can be taken to fully examine its social/environmental impacts, and establish “regulatory structures” that can minimize the negative impacts. In a press briefing, Ziegler was also quoted as saying, “It is a crime against humanity to convert agriculturally productive soil into soil which produces foodstuffs that will be burned into biofuel” (IRIN news, URL above).

As reported by the Biopact website, the FAO responded, saying, “We regret the report of the Special Rapporteur [which] has taken a very complex issue, with many positive dimensions as well as negative ones, and characterised it as a 'crime against humanity'”.  FAO strongly feels that food security and environmental considerations must be fully addressed before making investments or policy decisions, and we are actively working to ensure that this should happen.”  A moratorium would ignore “the potential of biofuels to support rural development and assist the economies of developing countries; it would not be a “constructive approach” to the issue, FAO further said.

Related information on UN Special Rapporteur Jean Ziegler’s Report : http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N07/487/05/PDF/N0748705.pdf?OpenElement
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7065061.stm