Biofuel industry should not ignore food security concerns, says CFS

Biofuel

In the wake of the growing biofuel development across many nations, Committee on World Food Security (CFS) emphasized the link between biofuels and food security, saying that the “progressive realization of the right to adequate food for all” should be a priority concern in biofuel development.

CFS, the world’s most important intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder platform for food security and nutrition, made the announcement at the recently held meeting that included over 130 government delegations, 100 civil society and 50 private sector organizations.

The CFS also agreed on the importance of integrating smallholder agriculture into national policies, strategies, and research aimed at boosting investment and sustainable development.

Biofuel

CFS noted that biofuel development brings both opportunities and risks in economic, social and environmental aspects depending on the context and practices. In certain cases, biofuel production can create direct competition between biofuel crops and food crops.

The CFS urged stakeholders to devise strategies to help countries evaluate the policies and possibilities of biofuel development, taking into account food security concerns at global, regional and national levels, and legitimate land tenure rights.

One of the suggestions was to improve the efficiency of biofuels regarding both resources and processes and to devise solutions adapted to the needs of all stakeholders, including those in least-developed countries, as well as women and smallholders who are most in need of access to modern energy services.

The CFS’ recommendation called on research and development partners to adapt biofuel production and processing to modulate the supply chain between food, feed and energy, depending on conditions.

picture source: news.discovery.com

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