- Current analysis estimates that biofuels - mainly being promoted by the EU and US - explain around 30 per cent of the increase in food prices.
- The EU is the biggest user and producer of biodiesel in the world and the Commission's own scientists state that implementing the new target will need nearly 20 per cent of the world's vegetable oils.
- The much-flaunted 'sustainability' criteria being developed by the EU do not take into account knock-on effects such as rising food prices and increased hunger.
- The Commission's conservative estimate that the EU 10 per cent target will lead to a 3-6 per cent price increase in cereals could result in up to 100 million extra people in hunger by 2020.
Rob Bailey, Policy Advisor of Oxfam International said: "To continue the pursuit of biofuels in the face of the credible, impartial and growing opinion that this is exacerbating the food crisis is morally outrageous and utterly indefensible."
Friends of the Earth Europe agrofuels campaigner Adrian Bebb said, "Biofuels are a false answer to our climate and energy problems. It is morally irresponsible to use crops to feed cars whilst people go hungry. The European Union must abandon it support for biofuels and invest in real solutions such as cleaner cars and an energy efficient Europe."