Will using BioHeat make food prices rise?
This is a common question. The answer is no. Food prices will not increase as bioheat blending with heating oil increases annually. Here’s why; In 2007 the United States Dept of Agricultural reported 406 million acres of available cropland. During 2007 only 309 million acres were planted. There are almost 100 million acres of unused cropland in the United states looking for a crop with a steady demand. If nothing was done to mandate BioFuels be used, they will only be used when petroleum prices are high. We saw this last year, when crude oil prices rose over $140 per barrel and gasoline and heating oil prices peaked over $4 per gallon. There was a rush to blend BioFuels like ethanol and plant oils because it made economic sense. The farm industry was unprepared for this ‘new’ demand and the shortage it created did impact food prices. Thankfully, Government mandates of minimum blending standards for BioFuels have created this steady demand. Farmers are already stepping up BioFuel produc
