The right to food and the impact of liquid biofuels

Jun 2008

This study was conducted in the context of the project “Creating capacity and instruments to implement the right to adequate food” financed by the Government of Germany.
The world is now facing a deep crisis caused by a steep increase in food prices without a corresponding increase in income for the food insecure.
Biofuel production could be one of its causes. Biofuel production has also given rise to a number of other problems and risks causing a far-reaching concentration of land ownership in developing countries with harmful effects on the livelihoods of vulnerable groups.
This study examines the impact of biofuel production on the enjoyment of the human right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger. It follows from internationally recognised human rights that States have a core obligation to ensure freedom from hunger for all, and that any decisions which may negatively affect the enjoyment of the right to food should be reviewed. This has also been reiterated by the UN Human Rights Council in its resolution adopted on 22 May 2008 as the result of its special session on the food crisis from a human rights perspective. This paper therefore explores whether and to what extent biofuel production has undermined or is likely in the future to undermine or weaken the access to food for vulnerable people, and whether there are any overriding ethical concerns that can justify biofuel production even if it harms access to necessary and sufficient food to avoid hunger.

By: Asbjørn Eide (FAO)

 
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