CGIAR Policy Statement on Biofuels

The Science Council of the Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research (CGIAR) has released a policy statement on biofuels production made upon the request of the Food and Agriculture Assistant Director General (Natural Resource Management and Environment Department). The statement addresses the challenges of the commodity, the likely implications of this development for the poor and the environment, and the role that CGIAR is expected to play.

The policy statement calls for “developing second and third generation conversion techniques from agricultural residues and wastes and step up the scientific research efforts to achieve sustainable biofuel production practices. Until such sustainable techniques are available governments should scale back their support for and promotion of biofuels.”  In addition, it recommended that small scale production of first-generation biofuels in rural settings be explored to reduce fuel dependency and promote rural development.

 A copy of the statement is available at http://www.sciencecouncil.cgiar.org/publications/pdf/CGIAR%20SC%20position%20paper%20on%20Biofuels.pdf