The Ethanol Effect and Global Hunger [Graphic]
by Catherine LaineDecember 10th, 2007
I disagree with one assertion from this graphic in particular. It states that as the U.S. increases the production of ethanol, corn exports will have to shrink to meet internal demand. Since we currently export 2/3 of the world’s corn, this would lead to the worsening of global hunger.
Hmm, but how is it possible for the U.S. to export that much corn and outcompete local producers in developing countries in the first place? U.S. agricultural subsidies allow us to sell corn and other foodstuffs at such low prices that many producers/farmers in emerging markets are forced out of business. I would argue that in the long term, the reduction of corn exports by the U.S. would have a better chance of decreasing global hunger as local providers could sell their wares at competitive prices and bolster their local economies.
From the Economist:
Three-quarters of the world’s poor live in rural areas. The depressed world prices created by farm policies over the past few decades have had a devastating effect. There has been a long-term fall in investment in farming and the things that sustain it, such as irrigation. The share of public spending going to agriculture in developing countries has fallen by half since 1980. Poor countries that used to export food now import it.
Reducing subsidies in the West would help reverse this. The World Bank reckons that if you free up agricultural trade, the prices of things poor countries specialise in (like cotton) would rise and developing countries would capture the gains by increasing exports. And because farming accounts for two-thirds of jobs in the poorest countries, it is the most important contributor to the early stages of economic growth. According to the World Bank, the really poor get three times as much extra income from an increase in farm productivity as from the same gain in industry or services. In the long term, thriving farms and open markets provide a secure food supply.
Update: Pete sent me this interesting story on Farmers in Africa fighting back against Western subsidies.
![Add 'The Ethanol Effect and Global Hunger [Graphic]' to Del.icio.us](http://www.aidg.org/components/com_jd-wp/wp-content/plugins/social_bookmarks/delicious.png "Add 'The Ethanol Effect and Global Hunger [Graphic]' to Del.icio.us")
![Add 'The Ethanol Effect and Global Hunger [Graphic]' to digg](http://www.aidg.org/components/com_jd-wp/wp-content/plugins/social_bookmarks/digg.png "Add 'The Ethanol Effect and Global Hunger [Graphic]' to digg")
![Add 'The Ethanol Effect and Global Hunger [Graphic]' to FURL](http://www.aidg.org/components/com_jd-wp/wp-content/plugins/social_bookmarks/furl.png "Add 'The Ethanol Effect and Global Hunger [Graphic]' to FURL")
![Add 'The Ethanol Effect and Global Hunger [Graphic]' to reddit](http://www.aidg.org/components/com_jd-wp/wp-content/plugins/social_bookmarks/reddit.png "Add 'The Ethanol Effect and Global Hunger [Graphic]' to reddit")
![Add 'The Ethanol Effect and Global Hunger [Graphic]' to Stumble Upon](http://www.aidg.org/components/com_jd-wp/wp-content/plugins/social_bookmarks/stumbleupon.png "Add 'The Ethanol Effect and Global Hunger [Graphic]' to Stumble Upon")
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:42 am
Southern Resurgence
Here is an idea that the Republicans, oil, tobacco companies will hate.
How about we plant sugar cane or sugar beets in the states of Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. We encourage them to stop planting tobacco which is killing millions. Sugar cane or sugar beets are 7 times more efficient than corn in making ethanol.
You want proof that it works? Just google Brazil and find out for yourself. Now, you won’t be using a food product or even displacing a food product……
In 1798, Thomas Malthus predicted that population growth would be perennially held in “check” by inherent limits to food production. … Energy can substitute for food in his theory but when the energy is the food……catastrophe will result.
Completely renewable and no one is hurt except for those purveyors of death the tobacco companies.
I would sure like to know the idiot who decided to use corn (a food product) and doomed ethanol to failure. Had to be an oilman!
Stop the tax subsidies to corn farmers and give them to sugar cane and sugar beet farmers, in the mean time eliminate import tariffs for ethanol. Allow the import of flex-cars made by our very own car company Chevy….
Come on all you Democrats in Congress are you going to give us more of the same or are you going to make a difference? Do something now to prove you are not just more of the same…… and I mean minions of the oil companies….
OH! This could all be done in one year……….No more dependence on foreign oil. What ever happened to common sense in America? You know, if we can’t straighten out a simple mess like this we deserve to fade away as a has been leading nation……
It is real simple folks; America has been sabotaged by special interests namely the oil companies including those from the Middle East who want to sell oil, oil, oil.
Cars are already to go, made by Chevy! They are called flex-cars and burn any combination of oil and ethanol.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:51 pm
If Ford or Chevy wants to survive, and I hope you do, why don’t you put E85 pumps in all your dealerships and advertise your flex-fueled cars which you have been making for years now?
Start pushing sugar cane and sugar beet ethanol which is 7 times more efficient than ‘corn’ ethanol and it doesn’t rob our food supplies.
It is time for you to face up to the truth; oil companies have screwed you worse than they have screwed us. You owe them nothing so start doing something to save your company. I’ll bet all those little FORDS that are all over Europe would sell like hot cakes right about now.