March 21, 2007: Massive Diversion of U.S. Grain to Fuel Cars is Raising World ... - The Diigo Meta page

• 13 Dec 07
  

  Epopteia ...

  agriculture macroeconomics sustainability unitedstates

  • The countries initially hit by rising food prices are those where corn is the staple food. In Mexico, one of more than 20 countries with a corn-based diet, the price of tortillas is up by 60 percent. Angry Mexicans in crowds of up to 75,000 have taken to the streets in protest, forcing the government to institute price controls on tortillas.
  • Since the United States is the leading exporter of grain, shipping more than Canada, Australia, and Argentina combined, what happens to the U.S. grain crop affects the entire world. With the massive diversion of grain to produce fuel for cars, exports will drop. The world’s breadbasket is fast becoming the U.S. fuel tank.
  • This could take most of the U.S. grain harvest, leaving little grain to meet U.S. needs, much less those of the hundred or so countries that import grain.
  • The stage is now set for direct competition for grain between the 800 million people who own automobiles, and the world’s 2 billion poorest people.

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