Biofuel hurting your pockets?

Think about this.

Ths US subsidises farmers who grow crops for bio-fuel / ethanol production.

That means more farmers are switching to wheat growing, instead of, say, poultry, vegetables, or soy.

Furthermore, more wheat is going into biofuel than grain food products, especially rice.

One more thing: the US wants more biofuel, so they're reducing exports to foreign countries, leaving less food for the rest of the world who depend on the US. And mind you, many countries depend on US food aid.

Oh, one more thing: since the US is making a move towards biofuel, the demand for crude oil reduces. Hence, the Middle East, furious at this and wanting to make the same amount of money / even more, raise crude oil prices to compensate for this reduction in demand from the US. Bad news for the rest of the world.

Is biofuel our answer?

Biofuel can certainly reduce our dependence on crude oil. Perhaps it is a cleaner. But it's hurting the poor people. Ironic, but true. The amount of grains needed to make biofuel enough to fill the tank of an SUV, is also enough to feed a person. For a year.

And one more thing: While the rich / middle class are able to afford grain alternatives such as processed food, the poor have a higher dependency on grains, as that's their main diet and their staple. By raising grain prices, it is the lower tier of the world that is being lowered into more severe poverty.

And before I end this summary on biofuel, can I add one more factor?

Global warming is affecting crop yields globally. With the rise in temperatures, it is expected that global food productions may fall. And even with the fall in productions, MORE crops are being used to make biofuel, leaving much LESS to supply the same global population.

Biofuel, are you really meant to help us?

I want my canteen food prices to go down, damn it!