Accelerated growth in corn use for ethanol has led critics to question corn growers’ ability to satisfy demand for both renewable fuels and traditional markets such as livestock and poultry feed, food processing and exports.
Skeptics contend the corn industry will be unable to meet demand and that choices will need to be made about which corn customers will be supplied first. Others say competing uses for grains will drive corn prices—and, in turn, retail food prices—to abnormally high levels.
Those who say we must prioritize the demands on grain in a “food vs. fuel” scenario are not taking into account the dramatic advances in seed technology, improved agricultural efficiency, innovations in biofuels production and other breakthroughs that are allowing the American farmer to meet the world’s need for food, feed, fuel and other uses.
The fundamental societal needs of energy, security and mobility are interconnected with the basic need of nourishment. If the U.S. agriculture sector has the technology and ingenuity to have a positive impact in all of these areas, shouldn’t it aspire to do so?
Industries change and evolve in response to new technologies and new markets. Instead of relegating agriculture to its traditional role as a feed and food supplier, shouldn’t we welcome the ability of American farmers to help our nation meet its energy challenges as well?
This paper examines the fallacy of stating we must choose between food and fuel—and provides accurate information and verifiable data to refute the “either-or” scenarios that are being touted by those who say we must make a choice between food or fuel.

By: National Corn Growers Association (NCGA)

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