Just got the following email from national Biodiesel Board
Recently it has become apparent to most in the biodiesel industry that the media thinks biofuels (which includes biodiesel) is negatively affecting food availability.
The combination of rising energy costs, increased global food demand, and the weak dollar are the main causes of rising food prices. U.S. biodiesel production is not a significant factor. Much of the edible feedstock used for biodiesel provides protein meal in addition to oil.
In fact, in 2007, only 12 percent of U.S. soybean production and four percent of global soybean production was used by the U.S. biodiesel industry to produce fuel. From the soybeans used to produce biodiesel, 81 percent of the soybean’s yield is protein that enters the market for either human consumption or animal feed. Technological advances are certain to increase soybean yields from existing acreage in the future.
Greater use of fats and oils for biodiesel production increases the value that farmers receive for their crops, while making protein meal less expensive. Biodiesel can provide benefits in food availability in addition to the well documented lower carbon dioxide (CO2), and higher energy balance. For more on the facts on commodity prices, please visit the sustainability website at
www.biodiesel.org.
