The transformative potential of the right to food 2014, para. 18
Paragraph- Paragraph text
- A second priority is to constrain the demand for liquid biofuels in the transport sector of high-income countries. Mandates for the consumption of biofuels in transport fuels in the United States of America and the European Union, and support to the production of biofuels in the form of subsidies, have significantly increased demand for agricultural commodities over the past 10 years. This has represented a major source of price volatility on agricultural markets and one of the most important factors explaining the global food price crisis of 2008, in part because these policies have strengthened the links between the food and energy markets: the conversion of crops for ethanol or biodiesel represents an economic opportunity especially where oil prices are high, which in itself already impacts on food prices. The push for biofuels has also exacerbated pressures on natural resources, as the production of energy crops competes for land and water with other uses, including the production of food, feed and fibre, environmental conservation and carbon sequestration, and urbanization or industrial projects (A/65/281). Foresight studies have suggested that, if current mandates are implemented, the price of cereals and other crops could be 35 per cent higher by 2030 than under a reference scenario where biofuel consumption remained constant at 2008 levels, putting an estimated 136 million more people at risk of hunger.
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right to food
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Food & Nutrition
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
- Reference
- SR Food, Report to the HRC (2014), A/HRC/25/57, para. 18.
- Paragraph number
- 18
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