Don’t Blame Bio-fuels For Everything

Confession time. I have to admit that I may have been a bit of a grumpy environmental blogger, failing to give due credit where credit is due..

In particular, I have frequently complained about bio-fuels driving up world food prices in absence of a few wider considerations, I’ve been dismissive at the EU’s lack of ability to actually implement anything that makes a real difference to the environment, and most recently I described an environmental tax levied on cows as the most stupid idea ever. So it is maybe time to examine these issues in a more positive light – negativity is, after all, the enemy of progress.

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Bio-fuels Are Not Solely Responsible For World Food Prices

In fact, there are several reasons behind the recent price increases. Firstly, there are simply more people to feed these days as the earth’s population begins to swell, and feeding these masses hasn’t been made any easier by recent spates of bad weather which have reduced crop production in some parts of the world.

Secondly, not only are there more of us, but we are eating more as the world grows wealthier. In particular, rising standards of living in developing nations is leading to an increase in meat consumption, meaning that instead of using grain directly to feed people it is being used to feed animals to feed people - which is a very inefficient process.

Finally, we shouldn’t forget the impact of farm subsidies in the Western world, which have effectively forced many farmers in developing nations out of business by distorting food markets and has ultimately lowered world food production capacity.

Whilst bio-fuels may not be entirely innocent, they are certainly not the only villain.

Taxing Cows Is Not a Bad Idea

Considering the impact of increased meat production on food prices, a tax on cattle herds starts to sound more sensible. When one considers the additional environmental impacts of overgrazing, soil erosion, desertification and deforestation – not to mention the millions of tons of greenhouse gasses from manure and cow-smells – then it starts to sound quite necessary.

I previously criticized the tax which is now being levied on cattle farmers in Estonia, claiming that there are few alternatives to cows and that there are few ways to make cows more efficient. However, I have to admit that I overlooked the option of simply eating more vegetables instead.

And the EU is Making Sensible Subsidies

To round off, recognizing some of the problems being caused by the massive $62 billion spent by the EU each year on farm subsidies, EU leaders will this week consider plans to pay farmers not for producing food, but to take better care of the countryside instead. The sustainability of farming is becoming increasingly important as high prices encourage some farmers to over stress their land for short term profit.

Under the new proposals, whilst farmers will be more exposed to market forces, they will receive government funds to encourage more sustainable agricultural practices. It is hoped that such reforms will level the world-wide playing field for food production whilst also encouraging and preserving the traditional European rural way of life.

Full Circle

Coming full circle, whilst using food to power vehicles may still not be the smartest long term green energy solution, it is certainly not the only problem, and in our rush to blame bio-fuels we run the risk of ignoring other important problems which also need to be addressed.

At the same time, it’s easy to forget that although our world is under increasing environmental pressure, global environmental awareness and initiatives are at an all time high. We will continue to make many mistakes, but we are also making steady progress. No more grumpy posts from this blogger - for now.

More about agriculture and bio-fuels at Green Options:

How Green Are Biofuels- Comparison Chart [PIC]

3 Reasons Manure is Becoming a Cash Crop

What About the Food in the Farm Bill-

Image credit: kables at Flickr under a Creative Commons license

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