Introduction into Food vs. Fuel Discussion and possible Solution Strategies

“Food vs. fuel” summarizes the growing debate concerning the risk of shifting farmland or food crops to biofuel production, decreasing the food supply on a global scale. The international discussion has brought to different positions, each having some good and valid points. Research efforts are currently being deployed in the production of second generation biofuels from non-food crops, crop residues and wastes, which could better harmonize farming for food and for fuel. Moreover, electricity could be generated in situ, being beneficial for rural areas in developing countries. The debate reached a global scale during the 2007–2008 world food price crisis. The settlement of food prices despite a growing use of farmland for biofuel production (more than twice larger surfaces) is consistent with several studies showing that biofuel production can significantly be increased without raising agricultural land use. 75%. Food commodity prices were relatively stable after reaching lows in 2000 and 2001. Therefore, rapid food price increases occurring in 2007/2008 were considered unusual. Beyond discussions on food/fuel competition, other important factors, influencing food prices, must be taken into account. As a whole, it may be concluded that developing economies increase their demand of both energy and food, amplifying the market price volatility of food commodities, whose production cannot be regulated in short-term periods.