Biofuels and Land Grabbing in Africa - Mokoro

of agrofuels would automatically be oriented towards the needs of local populations...it is
clear that this means a radical rejection of capital logic and subordinating the economy to
basic human needs.’ (150-1).
‘There remains only one valid long-term solution, which is to change our ways of consuming
energy, but that is contradictory to contemporary economic logic.’ (166).
Second, in November 2010, Zed Books published Food versus Fuel: An Informed
Introduction to Biofuels edited by Frank Rosillo-Calle and Francis X. Johnson, £14.99.
According to the publishers, the book ‘presents a high-level introduction to the science and
economics behind a well-worn debate, that will debunk myths and provide quality facts and
figures’. It ‘includes perspectives from 'pro' and 'anti' biofuels experts and activists, from the
North and South’ and it aims ‘to bring a balanced approach to the current debate on the
major issues affecting the development of biofuels in a concise and clear manner in order to
provide an informed, nuanced but accessible introduction, grounded in science and
economics rather than conjecture and controversy.’ Olivier Dubois, FAO’s Bioenergy Group
Coordinator wrote: 'While the food versus fuel debate still rages, this book fulfils an important
role in introducing the pros and cons of biofuels in a rigorous, well-informed and accessible
way that will surely improve the understanding of the issues by the general public. It will
therefore help the debate move in a constructive way.' The book does indeed include
conflicting views and contains chapters on rural development, agriculture and land use
issues and climate change.
‘Government policy in a number of OECD countries was implemented without sufficient
analysis of the environmental, social and economic effects. Furthermore, dialogue between
the countries that would import biofuels and those that would produce them was
minimal...The benefits and risks of biofuels are highly context-specific – a system that is
sustainable in one country does not necessarily work in a neighbouring country.’ (9)
‘Producing biofuels requires huge amounts of both fossil energy and food resources, which
will intensify conflicts among these resources. Using food crops to produce ethanol raises
major nutritional and ethical concerns... Growing crops for fuel squanders land, water and
energy resources vital to the production of food for people... Growing crops for biofuel not
only ignores the need to reduce natural resource consumption, but exacerbates the problem
of malnourishment worldwide by turning food into fuel.’ (48)
‘biofuels depend on economies of scale – the larger the agricultural and industrial
production, the easier the management and the greater the potential profits – and so
agricultural production is usually extensive’ (72)
‘Many of the crops used for biofuel production currently – such as sugarcane, oil palm and
maize – have a relatively high requirement for water. Thus, moderate to high yields can only
be obtained under irrigated conditions or in tropical regions with high rainfall. Extensive
cultivation of biofuel crops for commercial purposes may lead to competition for water
between biofuel production and subsistence food production.’ (146-7)
‘it is very important to recognize the importance of climate change and to initiate research on
the assessment of climate change impacts on biofuels, and to developing adaptation
strategies for different biofuel crops in different regions.’ (161)
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