The increased production of biofuels in developed countries has led to a doubled food import bill in poorer countries in the past few years.
According to a report commissioned by the Advisory Board for Irish Aid, the government's overseas development agency, rising food prices have hit poor people hardest, particularly in towns (read the full report here)
The report, Biofuels and Developing Countries by Brendan Riordan and Deryke Belshaw, accepts that biofuel production may displace food production by using land traditionally used for growing food.
But it says that by increasing overall output, and by producing biofuels from plants that do not compete for land with food crops, a reduction in food output could be avoided.
The authors suggest that a comprehensive review of biofuel systems be done, because policy was made when relatively little was known about the various effects and ramifications of biofuel production and use.
They also suggest that energy research programmes, both Irish and EU, should do more to include research and development partners in developing countries, and provide some benefits to these countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
