THE BIOFUEL DEBATE AND DEVELOPING NATIONS
FOOD VS FUEL : WHOSE INTEREST IS THREATENED?

Agricultural production in developing Countries, where food security are considered major national issues, has been weakened by low level of technology application, illiteracy, low capital for investment and lack of political will. Over the years, markets for agricultural produce from developing Countries have been decimated by continued subsidy and application of modern technologies by developed Countries in agricultural production. This situation renders agricultural products from developing Countries inferior in quality with resultant low price value which consequently heightens the current level of poverty. The combined effects of these forces of globalization have made agriculture a less attractive business in developing Countries and hence leading to abandonment of farms, land neglect as well as low agricultural output generally. The problem of land neglect has increased the hectares of marginal lands in desert prone and coastal areas in developing Countries. The developed Countries on the other hand have profited from the situation of agricultural neglect through massive export of food/crops to developing Countries, to the detriment of the economies of these nations and the citizenry. Therefore, the opportunity provided by biofuel projects would trigger improved agricultural activities in developing Countries above the current subsistent poverty level to an innovative level which would compulsorily demand the rehabilitation of marginal lands and adoption of modern commercial approach towards production. The workability of this strategy is predicated on the fact that most biofuel feedstock can be grown successfully on marginal lands. Agreed that the largest consumers of fuels and the major proponents of biofuel development are the rich developed Countries and accepted that these nations cannot provide all the feedstock requirement to support this project, then a substantial economic benefit of the global biofuel project would tilt in favour of developing Countries through development of marginal lands, improved agricultural outputs by commercial agriculture, higher value for products by proper pricing. This paper gives an in-depth analysis of the situation, backed with statistics and provides sufficient reasons to allay the fears of threat to food security and hence justify the involvement of developing Countries in the project especially in the area of development of feedstock. In conclusion, the paper posits that rather than threaten food security, the project will help to reduce poverty in developing Countries as well as provide farmers enhanced income and hence the needed capital to plough into “ Crop-for-Food-production” on fertile lands.

                         By AKWAOWO ETIM INYANG

                 ASSITANT CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER

RAW MATERIALS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL(RMRDC)