By Martin Banks - 1st June 2008
EU support of biofuels has helped create the global food crisis, it has been claimed.
International development and environment groups warned on Monday.that using crops to make biofuels will lead to millions of people going hungry.
In a letter, they have urged the European commission and heads of state to abandon the proposed 10 per cent target for the use of biofuels in transport and to dismantle associated support measures.
The call comes the day before a major UN conference on food security in Rome and the EU’s Green Week event, starting on Tuesday.
The organisations are highly critical of the commission for “denying” that Europe's continuing support for biofuels is contributing to food price rises and food shortages around the world.
In their letter, the groups say that biofuels – mainly being promoted by the EU and US – can be explained for around 30 per cent of the increase in food prices.
They also say Europe is the biggest user and producer of biodiesel in the world and the commission's own scientists state that implementing the new target will need nearly 20 per cent of the world's vegetable oils.
The groups’ also claim that the “much-flaunted” 'sustainability' criteria being developed by the region do not take into account knock-on effects such as rising food prices and increased hunger.
Rob Bailey, policy advisor of Oxfam International, said: "To continue the pursuit of biofuels in the face of the credible, impartial and growing opinion that this is exacerbating the food crisis is morally outrageous and utterly indefensible."
Friends of the Earth Europe agrofuels campaigner Adrian Bebb said, "Biofuels are a false answer to our climate and energy problems.
“It is morally irresponsible to use crops to feed cars whilst people go hungry. The EU must abandon it support for biofuels and invest in real solutions such as cleaner cars and an energy efficient Europe."
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