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Food versus fuel is the dilemma regarding the risk of diverting farmland or crops for biofuels production to the detriment of the food supply. The biofuel and food price debate involves wide-ranging views, and is a long-standing, controversial one in the literature.〔(The Impact of US Biofuel Policies on Agricultural Price Levels and Volatility ), By Bruce A. Babcock, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Iowa State University, for ICTSD, Issue Paper No. 35. June 2011.〕 There is disagreement about the significance of the issue, what is causing it, and what can or should be done to remedy the situation. This complexity and uncertainty is due to the large number of impacts and feedback loops that can positively or negatively affect the price system. Moreover, the relative strengths of these positive and negative impacts vary in the short and long terms, and involve delayed effects. The academic side of the debate is also blurred by the use of different economic models and competing forms of statistical analysis. Biofuel production has increased in recent years. Some commodities like maize (corn), sugar cane or vegetable oil can be used either as food, feed, or to make biofuels. For example, since 2006, a portion of land that was also formerly used to grow other crops in the United States is now used to grow corn for biofuels, and a larger share of corn is destined to ethanol production, reaching 25% in 2007. Second generation biofuels could potentially combine farming for food and fuel and moreover, electricity could be generated simultaneously, which could be beneficial for developing countries and rural areas in developed countries. With global demand for biofuels on the increase due to the oil price increases taking place since 2003 and the desire to reduce oil dependency as well as reduce GHG emissions from transportation, there is also fear of the potential destruction of natural habitats by being converted into farmland. Environmental groups have raised concerns about this trade-off for several years, but now the debate reached a global scale due to the 2007–2008 world food price crisis. On the other hand, several studies do show that biofuel production can be significantly increased without increased acreage. Therefore, stating that the crisis in hand relies on the food scarcity.〔See for example: the US (DOE and USDA) "Billion Ton Report": http://feedstockreview.ornl.gov/pdf/billion_ton_vision.pdf or an EU (Refuel) report http://www.refuel.eu/fileadmin/refuel/user/docs/REFUEL_D19a_flyer_feedstock_potentials.pdf〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Response: Lord Oxburgh: Through biofuels we can reap the fruits of our labours )〕 Brazil has been considered to have the world's first sustainable biofuels economy〔From ''The Economist'' print edition〕 and its government claims Brazil's sugar cane based ethanol industry has not contributed to the 2008 food crisis.〔 A World Bank policy research working paper released in July 2008〔Policy Research Working Paper No. 4682. Disclaimer: This paper reflects the findings, interpretation, and conclusions of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of the World Bank〕 concluded that "...large increases in biofuels production in the United States and Europe are the main reason behind the steep rise in global food prices", and also stated that "Brazil's sugar-based ethanol did not push food prices appreciably higher". However, a 2010 study also by the World Bank concluded that their previous study may have overestimated the contribution of biofuel production, as "the effect of biofuels on food prices has not been as large as originally thought, but that the use of commodities by financial investors (the so-called "financialisation of commodities") may have been partly responsible for the 2007/08 spike."〔 A 2008 independent study by OECD also found that the impact of biofuels on food prices are much smaller.〔 ==Food price inflation== From 1974 to 2005 real food prices (adjusted for inflation) dropped by 75%. Food commodity prices were relatively stable after reaching lows in 2000 and 2001.〔 Therefore, recent rapid food price increases are considered extraordinary.〔 A World Bank policy research working paper published on July 2008 found that the increase in food commodities prices was led by grains, with sharp price increases in 2005 despite record crops worldwide. From January 2005 until June 2008, maize prices almost tripled, wheat increased 127 percent, and rice rose 170 percent. The increase in grain prices was followed by increases in fats and oil prices in mid-2006. On the other hand, the study found that sugar cane production has increased rapidly, and it was large enough to keep sugar price increases small except for 2005 and early 2006. The paper concluded that biofuels produced from grains have raised food prices in combination with other related factors between 70 to 75 percent, but ethanol produced from sugar cane has not contributed significantly to the recent increase in food commodities prices.〔〔〔 An economic assessment report published by the OECD in July 2008〔 Disclaimer: This work was published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The views expressed and conclusions reached do not necessarily correspond to those of the governments of OECD member countries.〕 found that "...the impact of current biofuel policies on world crop prices, largely through increased demand for cereals and vegetable oils, is significant but should not be overestimated. Current biofuel support measures alone are estimated to increase average wheat prices by about 5 percent, maize by around 7 percent and vegetable oil by about 19 percent over the next 10 years." Corn is used to make ethanol and prices went up by a factor of three in less than 3 years (measured in US dollars).〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Corn Monthly Commodity Futures Price Chart : CBOT )〕 Reports in 2007 linked stories as diverse as food riots in Mexico due to rising prices of corn for tortillas,〔(''The Costs of Rising Tortilla Prices in Mexico'' ) — Enrique C. Ochoa, February 3, 2007.〕 and reduced profits at Heineken the large international brewer, to the increasing use of corn (maize) grown in the US Midwest for ethanol production. (In the case of beer, the barley area was cut in order to increase corn production. Barley is not currently used to produce ethanol.)〔''Financial Times'', London, February 25, 2007, quoting Jean-François van Boxmeer, chief executive.〕〔For an explanation of this ripple effect that pushes up not only the price of corn, but also that of other farming products, see this (excerpt from a speech ) by Paul Roberts at the Commonwealth Club of California (video).〕 Wheat is up by almost a factor of 3 in 3 years,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Wheat Monthly Commodity Futures Price Chart : CBOT )〕 while soybeans are up by a factor of 2 in 2 years (both measured in US dollars).〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Soybeans Monthly Commodity Futures Price Chart : CBOT )〕〔(Why ethanol production will drive world food prices even higher in 2008 | Cleantech.com )〕 As corn is commonly used as feed for livestock, higher corn prices lead to higher prices in animal source foods. Vegetable oil is used to make biodiesel and has about doubled in price in the last couple years. The price is roughly tracking crude oil prices.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Biofuel demand makes fried food expensive in Indonesia )〕〔(The other oil shock: Vegetable oil prices soar - International Herald Tribune )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Light Crude Oil (Pit) Monthly Commodity Futures Price Chart : NYMEX )〕 The 2007–2008 world food price crisis is blamed partly on the increased demand for biofuels.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Biofuel: the burning question )〕 During the same period rice prices went up by a factor of 3 even though rice is not directly used in biofuels. The USDA expects the 2008/2009 wheat season to be a record crop and 8% higher than the previous year. They also expect rice to have a record crop. Wheat prices have dropped from a high over $12/bushel in May 2008 to under $8/bushel in May.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Wheat Daily Commodity Futures Price Chart: Dec. 2015 : CBOT )〕 Rice has also dropped from its highs. According to a 2008 report from the World Bank the production of biofuel pushed food prices up.〔(World Bank Document )〕 These conclusions were supported by the Union of Concerned Scientists in their September 2008 newsletter 〔()〕 in which they remarked that the World Bank analysis "contradicts U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schaffer's assertion that biofuels account for only a small percentage of rising food prices." According to the October Consumer Price Index released Nov. 19, 2008, food prices continued to rise in October 2008 and were 6.3 percent higher than October 2007. Since July 2008 fuel costs dropped by nearly 60 percent. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Food vs. fuel」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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