The ethanol controversy
Food or fuel?
By Culinate staff
August 18, 2008
Once lauded as a viable alternative fuel, corn-derived ethanol has become reviled as an industrial evil driving up the price of crops, land, and food. But how nasty is it? The Portland Tribune tries to sort it all out with a look at the charges against ethanol, including whether ethanol raises food prices, reduces greenhouse-gas emissions, and if it’s even a good idea at all.
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1. by justcortbly on Aug 18, 2008 at 4:29 PM PDT
I’m doubtful that corn-based ethanol has a real imoact on food supplies and prices.
Almost all U.S. corn is used as animal feed,So it’s not like we’re suffering a shortage of corn chips.
More importantly, I also understand that, last year, the U.S. had a corn surplus of significant proportions. I.e., there’s a lot a corn sitting around rotting in silos that no one wants to buy, including ethanol producers. Difficult to make that jive with claims ethanol is endangering the food supply.
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