1. http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/42967/story.htm

UN Official Says Biofuels Raise Food Supply Risk
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CUBA: July 5, 2007

HAVANA - The head of the UN Environment Program said on Wednesday Cuban
leader Fidel Castro and others are justified in raising concern about the
potential for ethanol production to threaten food supplies for the poor.

But UNEP director Achim Steiner said the jury is still out on whether risks
outweigh the benefits when using food crops to produce ethanol as an
alternative fuel.

Castro, who has taken to writing articles since he was sidelined from power
last year by intestinal surgery, has attacked US plans to increase biofuels
output using crops such as corn, saying this will increase food prices and
global hunger.

"What President Castro points to is something the UN Food and Agriculture
Organization has also raised recently: That there is significant potential
and risk for competition between food production and production for a global
biofuels market," Steiner told Reuters during a environmental meeting in
Havana.

"We have to be aware that there are risks, and for some countries those
risks may not be worth taking," he said.

Steiner said it is too early to do a cost-benefit analysis on the use of
ethanol, which environmentalists say will help slow global warming.

While current technology simply turns crops, such as sugar or corn, into
ethanol, new biofuels products on the horizon use enzymes to turn crop
residue or agricultural waste into fuel, he said.

The UNEP is studying the efficiency of biofuels while focusing on the
development of international standards that would minimize social and
environmental risks.

But Steiner added: "As long as the world is not able to agree on the norms
and standards that should guide the development of a global biofuels market,
the risks are going to be much higher."

Story by Anthony Boadle

REUTERS NEWS SERVICE

2. http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070704/apfn_eu_biofuels.html?.v=1

AP
EU Wants Sustainable Biofuels
Wednesday July 4, 6:00 pm ET
By Aoife White, AP Business Writer
EU Trade Chief: Europe Must Act to Stop Biofuel Boom Tearing Down
Rainforests

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- Europe must act to prevent a biofuel boom tearing
down rainforests to produce the low-emission fuel rich nations want for
their cars, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson will say in a speech on
Thursday.

EU nations have vowed to replace 10 percent of transport fuel with biofuel
made from energy crops by 2020 in an effort to wean itself off imported oil
and cut down on carbon dioxide emissions.

But Mandelson said the EU could not allow the switch to biofuels to become
"an environmentally unsustainable stampede in the developing world."

"Europeans won't pay a premium for biofuels if the ethanol in their car is
produced unsustainably by systematically burning fields after harvests," he
said. "Or if it comes at the expense of rainforests."

His prepared remarks come from a speech he will give Thursday at an EU
biofuels conference in Brussels.

The EU wanted to set sustainability standards to encourage producers to use
more durable production methods, he said -- rules that would apply to both
importers and European producers.

He said Europe and others should help developing countries to reach these
goals because their decisions had a huge impact on poorer nations,
mentioning protests in Mexico City over tortilla corn flour prices just days
after the U.S. called for more biofuel output -- made from the same maize.

A United Nations report warned Wednesday that high commodity prices blamed
on increasing demand for biofuels could last throughout the decade as more
maize, wheat, rape seed and sugar is turned into fuel.

Mandelson said that Europe had to accept that it will need to import a large
part of the biofuel it needs and it should put environmental considerations
first -- even if that means favoring low-emission Brazilian ethanol made
from sugar cane and maize over carbon-heavy French oilseed crops.

"We should certainly not contemplate favoring EU production of biofuels with
a weak carbon performance if we can import cheaper, cleaner biofuels," he
said. "Resource nationalism doesn't serve us particularly well."

Oilseed crops grown in Europe currently receive large government subsidies
that often make them cheaper for consumers than tariff-laden Brazilian
ethanol that releases far less carbon dioxide when burnt.

"All biofuels are not equal," Mandelson said. "We must commit to meeting our
targets through the use of those biofuels that are most effective in
relative terms in reducing global carbon impact."

He said the EU had to encourage more research into "second generation"
biofuels that would make it easier to produce ethanol by fermenting crop
stalks and usually thrown away -- a method that could massively increase
biofuel output in Europe and the rest of the world.

According to the U.N. outlook, annual maize-based ethanol output in the
United States is expected to double between 2006 and 2016. In the European
Union the amount of oilseeds, mainly rape seed, used for biofuels is set to
grow from just over 10 million tons to 21 million tons over the same period.

3. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070704/bs_nm/food_oecd_biofuels_dc_1

Biofuels to buoy farm prices in next decade: OECD/FAO By Sybille de La
Hamaide
Wed Jul 4, 9:41 AM ET

PARIS (Reuters) - The rapid growth of the world's biofuel industry is likely
to keep farm commodity prices at high levels in the next decade as it will
boost demand for grains, oilseeds and sugar, a major study said on
Wednesday.

The study, co-written by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) and the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), said biofuels would have a major impact on the agriculture sector
between 2007 to 2016.

"Bioenergies have become a key factor in the functioning of agriculture
markets," Loek Boonekamp, a senior OECD official, told reporters after the
release of the study.

"In the medium term we believe that they could lead to prices on
international markets rising quite considerably, at higher levels than what
we had predicted in former outlooks and above the average of the last 10
years," he added.

Boonekamp said that farm prices, mainly grains, would likely rise by 20 to
50 percent over the next decade.

He added that although the long-term development of the biofuel sector
remained unclear, farm prices would remain high in the coming years even
without a sharp rise in biofuel demand because of the recent drop in output
in many parts of the world.

Biofuels have become a major issue on global commodities markets over the
last years as they are increasingly put forward as politically,
environmentally and economically friendly alternatives to fossil fuels.

Made of grain, oilseeds and sugar, the "green" fuels are expected to lower
dependence on fossil fuels, cut carbon dioxide emissions -- one of the main
causes for climate change -- and raise farm revenues.

The extra biofuel demand, combined with low stocks worldwide due to poor
harvests last year and fears of possible damage to the upcoming crops have
sent global grain and oilseed prices rocketing to historic highs over the
last months.

US, EU DEMAND TO SOAR

In its 2007-2016 agriculture outlook, the OECD-FAO did not expect the rise
to reverse soon.

"In a context of generally lower global stocks in recent years, this
additional demand (to make biofuels) is expected to underpin prices and lead
to price levels for field crops that are on average higher than in past
projections," the study said.

It added that grain prices were expected to stay higher than in the past 10
years, which would also have an indirect effect on prices for livestock
products due to higher feed stocks.

Ethanol production in the United States, predominantly based on domestic
maize (corn), was expected to grow by almost 50 percent in 2007 and, as
growth rates decline thereafter, to double by 2016, the study said.

"In consequence, maize use for fuel production, which has doubled from 2003,
would increase from some 55 million tonnes, or one-fifth of maize production
in 2006, to 110 million tonnes or 32 percent at the end of the projection
period," it said.

In the European Union, where biofuel production so far is largely dominated
by rapeseed-based biodiesel, ethanol output was expected to rise in the next
decade, adding pressure on the wheat and maize markets.

"Use of wheat in particular is set to increase twelvefold and to reach some
18 million tonnes by 2016. Growth in the use of oilseeds (largely rapeseed)
and maize is less dramatic, but would still reach 21 million tonnes and 5.2
million by 2016."

However, the study predicted that the share of biofuels in total transport
fuel consumption would not exceed 3.3 percent in energy terms, well below
the 5.75 percent target fixed by the European Commission.

The report put Brazil as one of the fastest growing biofuel producer and
said its ethanol output would reach some 44 billion liters in the next
decade, or 145 percent more than in 2006.

The OECD-FAO also said Chinese ethanol production, mainly made from maize,
at 3.8 billion liters by 2016, up from 1.5 billion in 2006. Maize use for
fuel ethanol should therefore exceed nine million tonnes by 2016, from 3.5
million last year.

4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6270892.stm

Last Updated: Wednesday, 4 July 2007, 16:49 GMT 17:49 UK

E-mail this to a friend Printable version

Biofuels 'to push farm prices up'

Demand for green fuels has been driving recent farm price rises

The rapidly growing biofuel market will keep farm commodity prices high over
the next decade, a key study has said.

According to the report, co-written by the Organisation for Economic
Development (OECD), biofuels will have a major impact on the farming sector.

Even without demand for the "green" fuel, recent falls in output - thanks to
drought and low stocks - will keep prices high, the report added.

The study predicts prices will rise by between 20% and 50% by 2016.

"Growing use of cereals, sugar, oilseeds and vegetable oils to satisfy the
needs of a rapidly increasing biofuel industry is one of the main drivers in
the outlook," said the report, which was co-written by the UN Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Biofuels - made from grains, sugar and oilseeds - are gaining popularity as
countries look to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, cut carbon
emissions and push farm revenues higher.

Growth market

According to the report ethanol production in the US, which mainly uses
domestic corn, is expected to jump by 50% in 2007 - and to double by 2016.

Meanwhile in Brazil - currently the world's fastest growing ethanol producer
- biofuel output is set to hit 44bn litres over the next 10 years, 145% more
than in 2006.

"Bioenergies have become a key factor in the functioning of agriculture
markets," Loek Boonekamp, a senior OECD official.

"In the medium term we believe that they could lead to prices on
international markets rising quite considerably, at higher levels than what
we had predicted in former outlooks and above the average of the last 10
years."

Looking ahead, the OECD And FAO expect prices to remain near the record
highs they have hit in recent months.

As well as biofuel demand, other temporary factors which led to low harvests
last year, as well as fears of poor harvests in the future, are expected to
underpin prices at their current levels.

The rise in farm prices could contribute to rising inflationary pressures
worldwide, along with increases in the price of commodities like oil.

5. http://www.kval.com/news/local/8311912.html

Oregon Governor signs a new biofuel bill into law

Story Published: Jul 3, 2007 at 6:05 PM PDT
By Jodi Unruh

Governor Ted Kulongoski kicked off "Energy Independence Month" on Tuesday by
signing a new biofuel bill into law. Lawmakers are touting the bill as one
of the most ambitious in the nation when it comes to renewable energy
production.

Governor Kulongoski says this day marks a victory for those working on
sustainable energy policies in our state. Lawmakers failed to pass a similar
bill during the 2005 legislative session. But politicians this session
showed strong bi-partisan support for House bill 22-10.

The governor elected to sign the new bill into law at the Sequential
Biofuels Station just southeast of Eugene. He says the station represents
what lawmakers have fought for and achieved.

The Biofuels Fill is designed to encourage renewable energy production and
consumption in Oregon. Some of the new changes include renewable fuel
standard requirements, such as a 10% blend of ethanol to gasoline.

The governor says this new bill will do for the fuel sector what Senate Bill
838 will do for the electricity sector. That bill requires the state's
largest utilities to meet 25% of their electric load with new renewable
energy sources by 2025. "which together comprise the most significant
environmental legislative policy in Oregon in more than 30 years," declared
the Governor.

Meanwhile, Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy said, "We share with you the belief
that this ship can benefit our economy, provide good jobs, and reduce carbon
emissions."

The new law also establishes tax credits for Oregon agriculture and forestry
producers, and encourages use of biofuels in state fleet vehicles. And it
give consumers a tax credit who fuel their vehicles with renewable energy
blends of gasoline.

__________________________________________________________
The next generation of Hotmail is here! http://www.newhotmail.co.uk/

On the 15th of April I wrote to the Norwegian government regarding the
negative consequences of biofuel.

They responded today (4th of July) as follows (translated):

>Referring to your email dated 15th of April 2007 regarding biofuel
>and CO2 pollution. We are aware of the area of problems related to net
>climate impact from biofuels. We thank you for your letter and will
>take your motion with us in our further work.
>
>Anne H. Johannessen
>Senior advicer
>
>Section for airpollution, consumption and transport
>Environmental department
>Postboks 8013 Dep.
>0030 Oslo

In my letter I attached a link of George Monbiots article 'a lethal
solution' (dated 2007.03.27) and Biofuelwatches Opel Letter regarding
biofuels (2007Jan31-openletterbiofuels.pdf).

With very best regards

Morten Lillesand
Stavanger, Norway

Large Alliance of NGOs and Indigenous Peoples Calls for Ban on
Genetically Modified Trees for Biofuels

Paris, France--Over 50 Indigenous Peoples Organizations and Non-
Governmental Organizations involved in meetings surrounding the
Convention on Biological Diversity, presented an open letter today
recommending a ban on Genetically Modified trees on the basis of
their potential impacts on forest biological diversity. They
expressed their concern that the current biofuels boom and the rush
for so-called second generation biofuels will lead to dangerous
experiments with these trees. The document was presented to
delegates attending the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and
Technological Advice (SBSTTA). SBSTTA is a subsidiary body of the
Conference of the Parties (COP) of the Convention on Biological
Diversity, and advises the CBD on scientific and technical issues.

The letter, which was circulated by World Rainforest Movement,
Global Justice Ecology Project and Global Forest Coalition, insisted
on compliance by all countries with the precautionary approach in
regard to GM trees, as agreed upon at the CBD's 8th Conference of
the Parties last year in Curitiba, Brazil.

Trees are being engineered with unnatural traits such as the ability
to kill insects, or have reduced lignin. Lignin is the substance in
a tree that makes it strong and protects it from disease, fungus,
wind and other environmental stresses. The escape of these traits
into forests via seed or pollen threatens to contaminate forests
with these traits, which could disrupt forest ecosystems, damage
biodiversity and wildlife, as well as potentially harming the health
of nearby communities. Trees can spread seeds and pollen for
hundreds of kilometers. Ironically, though GE trees threaten to
worsen global warming by damaging the ability of natural forests to
store carbon, companies propose to develop GE tree plantations as a
source for biofuels.

World Rainforest Movement's Ana Filippini said, "Countries are
dangerously ignoring the precautionary approach as research in GM
trees is currently being carried out in at least the following
countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Finland, France,
Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
and United States."

"Last week in the U.S., APHIS (the Animal Plant Health Inspection
Service), a subsidiary body of the US Department of Agriculture,
approved a request by GM tree corporation ArborGen to allow their
field trial of genetically modified eucalyptus trees in Alabama to
flower and produce seeds," Anne Petermann of Global Justice Ecology
Project stated. "Similar permission is being sought for GM tree
test plots in Brazil," she added.

"With the current rush for agrofuels, companies and governments are
looking to GM trees as potential source for future supplies of
cellulosic ethanol", concluded Simone Lovera of Global Forest
Coalition. "This will have a devastating impact on forests and
forest-dependent peoples all over the world."

According to the Biotechnology and GMOs Information Website
http://gmoinfo.jrc.it/gmp_report.aspx?CurNot=B/FR/07/06/01, this
month in France, the same country this
SBSTTA is being held, the company INRA, will begin a study of
transgenic poplar trees for bioethanol production. The five year GM
tree experiment will be located at the nursery of the Breeding
Experimental Unit on the ground of the INRA-Orleans Centre located
in Saint Cyr en Val, in France.

(Complete sign-on open letter with group signatories follows)

Open letter to SBSTTA on the issue of GM trees

The undersigned participants of SBSTTA or of meetings leading up to
SBSTTA wish to share their concerns about the issue of genetically
modified trees within the process of the Convention of Biological
Diversity. As you know, the last Conference of the Parties passed
Decision VIII/19, which recognized "the uncertainties related to the
potential environmental and socio-economic impacts, including long-
term and transboundary impacts, of genetically modified trees on
global forest biological diversity, as well as on the livelihoods of
indigenous and local communities, and given the absence of reliable
data and of capacity in some countries to undertake risk assessments
and to evaluate those potential impacts".

Among other things, it recommended Parties "to take a precautionary
approach when addressing the issue of genetically modified trees".

The above recommendation seems to have been basically ignored by a
number of countries, where either official research centers or
private companies continue carrying out work on genetic modification
of trees and are even planning to carry out field trials, such as
the current case of the company ArborGen, which is seeking
permission for field trials of flowering eucalyptus trees in the US.

Research in genetic modification of trees is currently being carried
out -disregarding the COP's decision- in at least the following
countries Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Finland, France,
Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
and United States.

Given that the COP8 Decision gave SBSTTA the task of assessing "the
potential environmental, cultural, and socio-economic impacts of
genetically modified trees on the conservation and sustainable use
of forest biological diversity, and to report to the ninth meeting
of the Conference of the Parties"; and given that the rush to
produce biofuels is being used to promote the rapid commercial
development of genetically modified trees, we appeal to SBSTTA to:

- insist on compliance by all countries with the
precautionary principle as agreed upon at COP8
- recommend a ban on GM trees on the basis of their potential
impacts on forest biological diversity

Global Justice Ecology Project
World Rainforest Movement
Global Forest Coalition
Sobrevivencia/FOE Paraguay
STOP GE Trees Campaign, North America
NOAH-Friends of the Earth Netherlands
Africa-Europe F & J Network
Friends of the Earth Europe
Friends of the Earth Malaysia
CENSAT-Aguaviva FOE Colombia
Indigenous Information Network, Kenya
Nordre Folkcenter for Renewable Energy, Denmark
Friends of the Siberian Forests, Russia
CELCOR/FOE Papua New Guinea
Pro REGENWALD, Germany
Robin Wood, Germany
Friends of the Earth-England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Consumers Association of Penang, Malaysia
Comision Intereclesiastica de Justicia y Paz, Colombia
Consejo Comunitario de la Cuenca del Currarado
Ole Siosiomaga Society Incorporated (OLSSI) Samoa
Fundación para la Promocion del Conocimiento Indigena, Panama
ICTI-Tanibar, Indonesia
PIPEC, Pacific Indigenous Peoples Environment Coalition, New Zealand
FERN
International Alliance of the Indigneous and
Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests
Corporate Europe Observatory
Greenpeace International
Ecologica Movement BIOM, Kyrgyzatan
CORE - Centre for Organization Research & Education, Northeast
Region India
EQUATIONS
Ecological Society of the Philippines
Timberwatch Coalition, South Africa
Forest Peoples Programme, UK
MST - Brazil's Landless Workers' Movement
Viola, Russia
Ecoropa, Germany
ETC Group
Asociación Indígena Ambiental
Umwelt-und Projehtwerkstatt, Germany
Global Environment Centre, Malaysia
Washington Biotechnology Action Council, U.S.
BUKO Campaign against Biopiracy, Germany
The Gaia Foundation, UK
HATOFF Foundation, Ghana
Tebteba Foundation, Philippines
Nature Tropicale, Benin (West Africa)
Jeunes Volontairs pour l'Environnement, Togo
Biofuelwatch, UK
Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum
NABU - Nature and Conservation Union, Germany
BUND - Friends of the Earth Germany
Indigenous Network on Economics and Trade, Canada