A/HRC/9/23
page 37
Figure 1: Contributions of biomass to global primary and
consumer energy supplies in 200763
2.
The impact on the right to adequate food of the development of bioethanol and biodiesel
for transportation occurs at three levels. First, the pace of this development has significantly
contributed to the increase of the prices of certain agricultural commodities on international
markets, threatening the enjoyment of the right to adequate food. Second, a number of negative
impacts on the right to food can be expected from the methods of production of agrofuels, in the
locations where such production takes place. Third, when produced in developing countries in
order to satisfy the growth of demand in industrialized countries, agrofuels may lead to a
distorted development, benefiting only a minority, and worsening the lot of many others. These
impacts are examined in turn.
1.
The impact of agrofuels production on international prices
of agricultural commodities
3.
Certain policies aimed at promoting the use of agrofuels, in the form of blending mandates
or tax breaks or subsidies for agrofuel production,64 have contributed to the increase of the prices
63
G. Best et al., A Sustainable Biofuels Consensus, Rockefeller Foundation, Bellagio Study and
Conference Center, 2008 (based upon IEA, World Energy Outlook 2006, OECD/IEA, Paris,
France, and World Energy Assessment Overview: 2004 Update, UNDP, UN-DESA and the
World Energy Council, 2004).
64
For an overview, R. Steenblik, “Biofuels - At What Cost? Government Support for
Ethanol and Biodiesel in Selected OECD Countries”, Geneva: Global Subsidies Initiative of
the International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2007. The U.S. for instance has a tax
credit available to blenders of ethanol of USD 0.51 per gallon and an import tariff of
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