Statement from NBB CEO Jobe on Latest Biofuels Scapegoat Attempt
UN “Expert” Ignores Studies Stating Petroleum Is Primary Factor in Driving Food Prices

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today we have witnessed the latest in a concerted effort to exaggerate the role of biofuels in the rise of global food prices with a new report from so-called UN expert Olivier de Schutter. In fact, the latest attempt to scapegoat the biofuel industry is little more than a recitation of other baseless attacks, including a discredited supplemental position paper erroneously reported as a World Bank “study.” While the soaring price of oil is overwhelmingly recognized as the major factor driving food price increases, biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel have had a marginal effect on the increase in food prices in the U.S. – about four to five percent – according to the U.S. Department of Energy and the USDA.

Contrary to the assertions of those interested in limiting clean alternative fuels such as biodiesel, food prices would actually be higher without biodiesel. The U.S. biodiesel industry used only 12 percent of U.S. soybean production and four percent of global soybean production to produce fuel in 2007. Even then more than 80 percent of each soybean actually entered the market as protein for either human consumption or animal feed. We are proud of the promise that biodiesel holds for providing a sustainable and cleaner alternative to petroleum.

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