Adopted in June 2008, Bill C-33 (an Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act of 1999) authorizes the Canadian government to establish the minimum content levels of agrofuels (also known as biofuel) in gasoline sold in Canada starting in 2010. The production of agrofuels, however, are having a detrimental effect on the Global South.
The regulation, whose public consultation period ends today, fixes the agrofuel level in gasoline at 5 percent by the end of 2010 and the renewable content level in diesel at 2 percent by 2012.
“This regulation makes no sense whatsoever,” said Michael Casey, Executive Director of Development and Peace. The organization says that the use of agrofuels would not reduce greenhouse gas emissions at all. “In fact, when one takes into account the deforestation and massive use of pesticides and fertilizers for growing the biomass needed for agrofuel production, the environmental benefits are zero,” added Mr. Casey.
More problematic for people in the Global South, with whom the organization works, agrofuels contribute to the rising price of food that is affecting poor countries. “Instead of producing food, farmland in the Global South is being monopolized by sugar cane and African palm farmers just to produce agrofuels.”
The Bill anticipates importing grain from the United States. However, according to a World Bank report, the diversion of U.S. grain stocks for agrofuel production is largely responsible for the global food crisis in late 2008.
Casey pointed out that “you have to keep in mind that the 205 kilos of corn needed to fill a commercial vehicle’s gas tank with ethanol could feed a person for an entire year.”
Faced with data like that, Development and Peace believes that the government should extend the consultation period on the law concerning agrofuel in Canada.
Decisions must be taken that are consistent with objective and comprehensive studies on the social and environmental impacts in comparison with the expected benefits,” added the international development organization’s Executive Director.
Development and Peace wants the House of Commons Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development to study the regulations in greater depth.
For the past year, Development and Peace has carried out a campaign on food sovereignty and the difficulties faced by poor countries when they want to achieve it. The organization has concluded that producing agrofuels does not promote food security: instead, it fosters food insecurity.
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