Food security and global security - IEEE

José María Medina ReyBiofuels and food securitysolutions to food insecurity affecting rural populations (3 out every 4 ofthose starving in the world live in rural areas).• Therefore, policies promoting biofuels must be revised. In particular, theEuropean Union must review the compulsory quota for mixing biofuel withfossil fuels, in addition to subsidies for producing them.• Spain, which has no advantages over tropical countries in the productionof first generation biofuels, should concentrate its efforts on research anddevelopment of the second and third generations of biofuels, which willhave more beneficial effects on the environment, whilst at the same timeeliminating the negative impact on food security.• Furthermore, in view of the first reports presented by the European Commissionin 2012 on the social and environmental impact of their biofuelpolicies, Spain must focus on the sustainability criteria contained in RoyalDecree 1597/2011, especially those for social criteria, placing special importanceon the impact on food security in developing countries.224