Food crisis strengthens EU biofuel critics, may hasten deal

Reuters
By Barbara Lewis and Ivana Sekularac
BRUSSELS/AMSTERDAM
Wed Aug 15, 2012 8:24am EDT

BRUSSELS/AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Drought-stricken crops and record-high grain prices have strengthened critics of the European Union biofuel industry, adding fears of a food crisis to their claims that it does not ultimately reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The renewed anxiety adds to pressure on the EU's executive Commission to forge a deal this year to help ensure that EU biofuels do not clash with food production or the environment.

Such an agreement would remove some of the uncertainty that has hung over the multi-billion euro bioenergy industry during years of debate.

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