UN Official De Schutter: Stop All Biofuel Investments
Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council session on
May 22, Olivier De Schutter, an independent UN expert, said new
investments and subsidies favoring the production of biofuels
should be frozen in an effort to curb food price rises. Such a
move could send a strong signal that the price of food crops will
not keep rising, and thus halt speculation, he added. Lyndon
LaRouche's view is that nothing less than a global financial
reorganization of the entire, manifestly bankrupt system, can put
a stop to the hyperinflationary blowout.
De Schutter pointed to a study estimating that an extra 100
million hectares (247 million acres) of land would be needed in
order for agrofuels to make up 5% of worldwide fuels by 2015, which would not be sustainable. U.S. plans to require fuel producers to use at
least 36 billion gallons (136 billion liters) of biofuel in 2022
and an EU target of biofuels would be to meet 10% of transport energy
demands by 2020.
"I have therefore proposed a freeze on all new investments
and subsidies favouring the production of fuel by growing crops
on arable and non-degraded lands, when such lands are suitable
for the production of food crops."
On the right to food, De Schutter said it was essential that
sub-Saharan African farmers get access to seeds and fertilizers
before the end of the planting season in June to prepare for the
next harvests."They need help. This is urgent. We must feed the
hungry now, but we must also prevent famines from occurring
tomorrow," he told the one-day talks.
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