Biofuels- culprit for global hunger? Fact or Fiction

By: *Major Yoko Ramos-Vingno, (O-141086) PA

Year old Republic Act 9367 (known as the Biofuels Act of 2006 – the first in the world!), the Philippines’ contribution to the world’s fight against global warming, is now being attacked as the factor for the rising food prices.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has stated to achieve energy self-sufficiency by 2010. Line agencies of the government were tasked to implement RA 9367. But with officials are faced with global problem of food insecurity -- some sectors have proposed to shelve the Law. The debate on Food versus Fuel continues.

“The Clean Energy Myth”, Time Magazine’s cover story tackled the promise of the Biofuels as the response to the global fight against climate change or global warming but the uncovered the sad fact that it is projected to be the villain --major factor of global starvation.

The image of Biofuels as a clean burning fuel has dramatically changed to a monster like creature depriving the people of world their food.

Another voice heard was that of Monsieur Jean Ziegler, UN Rapporteur for the Right to Food, chanting, “Producing biofuels is a crime against humanity.” The international Monetary Fund had a rejoinder saying that biofuels “posed a real moral problem and called for a moratorium on using food crops to power cars, trucks and buses.”

The demand for clean air and climate conscious enthusiasts have prompted to invest in bioethanol – countries like the United States, Germany and Brazil. Farmers found it more attractive to sell their products to the refineries due to the higher selling price. Forests were also exploited. Ripple effect followed – thus, the world is now faced with global hunger.

Critics have also speculated that the Commodity Speculators have contributed to the crisis.

People around the world cannot cope up with the soaring prices of basic commodities thus creating a global food crisis!

Take the case of Haiti where violent protests ensued; farmers found it difficult to compete with cheap, and US subsidized rice called Miami rice. This was part of the food aid program, a loan granted to Haiti by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Farmers were then forced to leave their lands because of the situation so they ended up jobless. Hungry people increased and food is unavailable – a grim picture. Hunger riots resulted to the ouster of Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis.

Similar unrests related to the problem erupted in Africa, Egypt, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Ethiopia and Madagascar.

The Philippines is not spared by this global experience. Poor Filipinos, under the scorching sun, were seen queuing for cheaper rice sold by the government thru its rolling stores. President GMA thought of FIELDS to address this problem. She has instructed the DA Secretary Arthur Yap to assist the farmers with F – ertilizers, I – rrigation and infrastructure, E – xtension and education, L – oans and insurance, D – yrers and other post harvest facilities, and S – eeds.

Not to be outdone by the critics, the defenders of Biofuels have expressed that “ignoring biofuels’ potential to boost development would be a real crime against humanity,” quoted from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

“The government is facilitating the transition of our energy sector to a sustainable system by developing renewable energy as a viable fuel option.” DOE Secretary Angelo Reyes

“The local situation is quite different from what is happening globally, we have jatropha plantation which is not harmful to the environment and it does not compete with food crops.” Secretary Renato S. Velasco, PNOC- Alternative Fuels Corporation Chair

Global population growth, droughts – climate change, the governments - its laws and policies together with their head of states, the price of crude oil to $120 per barrel and the inability of other countries to sustain their own food is a result of the crisis – Despite all these factors, the Philippines is not giving up on the Biofuels Program.

Everybody has to do his or her share. Global cooperation of our governments is needed to achieve good economics and politics so the world will unite for our interest – a common act towards the betterment of our Mother Earth.


The Philippines’ road map for Biofuels Program includes:
ü Ban on planting of biofuels feedstock in all irrigated and highly productive lands.

ü The bioethanol production would be implemented only in sugar-producing districts, with excess sugar

ü Use of four million hectares of idle and denuded mountain lands to plant Jatropha



Types of Biofuels:

Bioethanol Crops are sugarcane, corn, cassava and nipa.

§ Bioethanol is currently being used in Brazil, the United States, China, India and Thailand.

§ A World Bank study has estimated that corn prices “rose over
§ 60 percent from 2005 to 2007, largely because of the US ethanol program. President George W. Bush said the United States should increase ethanol use because of national energy security and high gasoline prices.

§ Thought to be an eco-friendly fuel but studies shows that ethanol increases global warming, destroys forests and jacks-up food prices.



Biodiesel Crops are palm, soy, rapeseed, sunflower, coconut and jatropha.

Palm is abundant in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand
Rapeseed and Sunflower mostly in Europe
Soybean is grown in the United States
Coconut known as the tree of life in the Philippines
Jatropha dubbed as the miracle plant because of its many uses

Ø The goal of Biodiesel production is to move away from food based feedstocks.







* Major Yoko Ramos-Vingno, PA is a Director at the Office of the President of the Philippines, Malacañang. She has joined the Philippine Army in 2007. Director Ramos worked for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as her deputy appointment secretary in the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines.