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Global Food Prices Expected To Remain Volatile In Coming Years, Warns UN Official
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS): Although global food prices have recently stabilized, they are expected to remain volatile over the next few years, the head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said Monday, as a ministerial meeting on global food prices kicked off in Rome. FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva told the meeting, which coincided with the opening of the Committee on World Food Security, that this year’s session was taking place in a less troubled climate than a year ago, when the ministers came together in response to the third spike in international grain prices in five years. “The outlook for international food commodity markets finally looks calmer this year,” he told the meeting, which was attended by some 30 agriculture ministers. “Grain production has rebounded and higher stock-to-use ratios should bring greater stability to prices.” And while the FAO Cereal Price Index is 20 per cent lower than it was one year ago, this is not the time for complacency, he stated. “International prices have declined but they are still above their historical levels. And prices are expected to remain volatile over the next years,” he warned. Graziano da Silva urged countries to take advantage of the relative calm to prepare for future market turbulence and find lasting solutions to the issues surrounding food price volatility. “If higher and volatile prices are here to stay, then we need to adapt to this new pattern.” The two critical issues for countries to address are how to help poor small-scale farmers benefit from the higher food prices, and how to protect low-income families who suffer as a result of them, he said. “The current situation offers an opportunity for farmers to reinvest in agriculture,” he continued, calling for a right set of policies to ensure that small-scale farmers have the means to take advantage of it. The Committee on World Food Security (CFS), which runs until Oct 11, opened Monday amid urgent calls to build more effective links between international policies and the daily needs of millions of the world’s most vulnerable people. “The latest estimates signal there are nearly 30 million less hungry people in the world in 2013, compared to last year,” Graziano da Silva said at the opening. “And we continue to progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal hunger target of reducing by half the proportion of the undernourished population between 1990 and 2015. “I see many challenges ahead of us, but also progress and successful experiences that we can build on,” he added. “We are convinced that working together is the only way forward.” “Poverty and hunger go hand-in-hand and poverty runs deepest in rural areas,” said Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). “Let us not forget that rural areas are a key element of any new development agenda and global food security. Let us not forget that investing in smallholder agriculture is the most cost effective way for developing countries to tackle poverty and hunger.” Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), said the world needs a strong and effective CFS. “Together, we shoulder an enormous responsibility, but our burdens weigh nothing in comparison to the suffering of the 840 million chronically undernourished people depending on us to get it right.” In a message delivered by his Special Representative for Food Security and Nutrition, David Nabarro, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the Committee “the point of reference” for all who seek to achieve the goal of eliminating hunger through collaboration with governments, social movements, farmers’ organizations, business and the research community. “Working with a spirit of trust and mutual accountability, multiple actors are collaborating to address some of the thorniest issues of food security: land tenure; climate change; food price volatility; biofuels; and responsible investment in agriculture,” he noted. The weeklong session will feature two round tables: on biofuels and food security, and investing in smallholder agriculture for food security and nutrition. Continue reading
Ag Secretary Vilsack Reaffirms Support for Biofuel Mandates
The Obama administration strongly supports biofuel mandates and opposes any legislation that would return transportation fuel choice to the states or the people, said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in a speech to ethanol producers. Vilsack Blasts Congress In a September speech sponsored by the ethanol industry, Vilsack blasted efforts in Congress to amend the 2007 statute that forces consumers to purchase biofuels and ethanol-blended gasoline. Under the law—passed by a Democrat-controlled Congress and signed by Republican President George W. Bush—refiners are required to blend biofuels into the nation’s motor fuel supply in greater quantities every year, with the mandate reaching 36 billion gallons a year by 2022. More than half that amount, or 21 billion gallons, is required to come from what are called “next-generation fuels” that do not use corn starch as a feedstock. “There is no need for Congress to intervene in this,” Vilsack said. “There is no need for Congress to try to rewrite this renewable fuels standard. They got it right the first time.” Mandates Face Wide Opposition Whether Congress “got it right the first time,” as Vilsack says, is at the center of an intense debate. Opponents of the renewable fuel mandates, which include environmentalist groups, livestock producers, automobile associations, and consumer advocates, point out the mandate diverts 40 percent of the nation’s corn crop away from feeding people and livestock. This in turn drives up food prices and induces farmers to develop marginal cropland that would otherwise be left in its natural state. The ethanol itself, moreover, delivers fewer miles per gallon and fewer miles per dollar than gasoline. Adding to the ethanol controversy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently approved the sale at fueling stations of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol as conventional gasoline, up from the former 10 percent cap. Automotive engineers warn the higher blend of ethanol will make fuel substantially more corrosive and will increase damage to vehicles. “If the EPA continues to dictate unrealistic levels of ethanol that fail to recognize declines in gasoline consumption, one of two scenarios will occur. Refiners will either be forced to raise the price of gasoline to pay fines to the EPA, or they will be forced to export raw gasoline in order to make a profit, leaving a massive shortage of gasoline here at home,” U.S. Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, noted in an open letter published on his website. EPA Requires Nonexistent Product A further problem arises with cellulosic ethanol mandates imposed by EPA. Contrary to the expectations of lawmakers in 2007, fuel made from switchgrass, corn stover, wood chips, and other materials remains commercially unviable. Nevertheless, EPA is using its discretion under the law to tell refiners they must use cellulosic ethanol that, for all practical purposes, does not exist. EPA is targeting refiners with steep fines for not blending the nonexistent cellulosic ethanol into gasoline. An Oil Industry Conspiracy? Unmoved by such arguments, Vilsack told the ethanol producers the oil industry wants biofuel manufacturers to fail so they can buy up the ethanol plants. He said the oil industry is conspiring with its allies to block the U.S. Department of Agriculture from funding the installation of pumps at gas stations capable of blending higher levels of ethanol into gasoline. House Takes Action On Capitol Hill, where the biofuel mandates originated, members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee are drafting an amendment to address the problems that have surfaced with the biofuels mandate. House leaders plan on conducting hearings on the topic later this year. Vilsack’s comments, however, strongly suggest any legislative revision of the biofuels mandate would face a near-certain presidential veto. “The biofuel mandates subsidize the U.S. corn farmer at the expense of livestock producers and American consumers,” said Daniel Simmons, director of state policy at the Institute for Energy Research. “It is a disgrace that Secretary Vilsack supports policies that drive up food and fuel prices in exchange for subsidies for special-interest groups,” Simmons added. Bonner R. Cohen, Ph. D. ( bcohen@nationalcenter.org ), is a senior fellow at the National Center for Public Policy Research. Continue reading
Active Energy Says Wood Chip Shipments Dipped But Remains Positive
Wed, 9th Oct 2013 10:33 LONDON (Alliance News) – Active Energy Group PLC Wednesday said the amount of wood chip it shipped in the three months to September 30 declined compared with the three months ended June 30. In a trading update the biomass fuel provider said it shipped 50,000 metric tonnes of wood chip between July and September, down from 57,000 metric tonnes between April and June, of which 38,000 metric tonnes was subject to a profit-sharing arrangement with Nikofeso Holdings Limited, a biomass exporter it acquired in June. Active said the third quarter shipments have generated gross revenue of USD5.3 million for the group and “reflect positively in the context of a clearly growing market opportunity”. The company plans to ship up to 350,000 metric tonnes of wood chip a year on Black Sea markets by the end of 2015, with a similar quanta of cargoes of power plant feedstock shipped to European clients. The entire volume shipped in the third quarter was for biomass feedstock to customers in Southern Europe, while shipments to clients engaged in medium-density-fibreboard manufacture in the Black Sea region are expected to resume in the fourth quarter in parallel with continuing biomass shipments. The company expects to release its results for the year ended December 31 in March or April 2014. Active shares were trading at 2.65 pence Wednesday, up 0.15 pence or 6.0% By Anthony Tshibangu; anthonytshibangu@alliancenews.com; @AnthonyAllNews Continue reading
