Bio fuels or Food Security?
By buddha3
@buddha3 (1026)
India
November 28, 2011 11:26am CST
We are running out of fossil fuels!Prices of these fuels are going sky high! There is a need of using alternative fuels and bio fuels are seen as the best ones to replace petroleum. It is claimed that these agro-fuel crops consume less water and can grow in any type of land. I am not sure about how true this is. MNCs are luring farmers to grow these crops with the promise of high price.
There is another debate that these crops may affect the food security of developing nations. Lot of developing countries are facing shortage of food. Many poor families are not getting access to food due to high price and improper storage and distribution. In this context it is argued that if farmers in the already food INSECURE countries start growing these crops instead of food crops, there will be more shortage of food and hence prices will go still high!
What is your take on this friends? please let me know and let's have a quality discussion.
1 response
@Olleenz (3398)
• Indonesia
28 Nov 11
If I answer you question with all argumentation maybe I can make a book.
In short
Everyone looking for profit and farming (for food specially) are not promising nowadays (to get rich). If government can find solution for reducing cost of productivity, maybe farmer back on their land again.
In short
Everyone looking for profit and farming (for food specially) are not promising nowadays (to get rich). If government can find solution for reducing cost of productivity, maybe farmer back on their land again.1 person likes this
@buddha3 (1026)
• India
29 Nov 11
Well, that's right. But the bio fuel companies are promising that these crops don't need pesticides and need less water etc. Also, we are in a need of looking for an alternative to petroleum products. Hence, bio fuels are being promoted.
But my point was, considering these facts, should we use some land under food crops to grow bio fuel crops?
@buddha3 (1026)
• India
30 Nov 11
Excellent points put forth by you olleenz! You have given a lot more insight to it than I had.
As u said, bio fuel crops need different kind of land than food crops. Hence there is no way they can replace food crops on a large scale, even if the farmers desire to do so. Is that right??
If yes, then I think there is no need to fear that growing of bio fuel crops would affect food security!
@Olleenz (3398)
• Indonesia
30 Nov 11
Wrong ...... you should worries
When food farming not profitable anymore, people tend (farmer) to look higher income alternative that they can do best which mean they don't have willingness to do their current job. Some of them might sell their lands to another purpose (to build house for example). When no one doesn't want to work in food farming anymore, what do you think about what happen next? I give a clue, demand will higher than supply.
1 person likes this
