FAO Seeks Review of Biofuel Policies and Subsidies

The Food and Agriculture Organization’s annual publication “The State of Food and Agriculture” stresses the need to urgently review biofuel policies and subsidies to “preserve the goal of world food security, protect poor farmers, promote broad-based rural development and ensure environmental sustainability”. “Biofuels present both opportunities and risks. The outcome would depend on the specific context of the country and the policies adopted,” said FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf. “The challenge is to reduce or manage the risks while sharing the opportunities more widely.”

Diouf added that “There seems to be a case for directing expenditures on biofuels more towards research and development, especially on second-generation technologies.” If well designed and implemented, this could have a greater potential in reducing greenhouse gas emissions with less pressure on the natural resource base".

View the FAO press release at http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2008/1000928/index.html