What is IFPRIs stance on biofuels?
IFPRI’s research on biofuels is evolving and has mostly focused on the impacts relating to food security—which are negative when key food crops such as maize are targeted for feedstock use. IFPRI has advised caution when designing national biofuel programs to avoid these conflicts, and IFPRI has also recommended that some of the major producers of biofuel, such as the United States, remove their trade barriers against the importation of ethanol. IFPRI still believes, however, that there are positive benefits that can be realized from properly-designed biofuel programs, especially when they lead to opportunities for the rural poor and smallholder producers of feedstock. IFPRI is exploring the potentially positive benefits for women when bioenergy production is geared towards providing cheaper and cleaner fuels for domestic use. Given IFPRI’s research mandate, IFPRI’s research on biofuels will continue to focus on analyzing the impacts on the agricultural sector and the implications for
